Do you know who Cupid really is?
You've seen him in the movies, in cartoons and on numerous Valentine cards. But do you know who Cupid really is?
Now that Valentine's Day is just around the corner, here's a brief history of this timeless character who brings lovers together and mends broken hearts.
Of course, Cupid generally needs no introduction. He's that little boy with wings who shoots arrows that turn people into lovers. He is seen as either nude or diapered and is sometimes blindfolded - hence the expression "love is blind."
Cupid's name comes from the Latin word "cupido" which means desire. Although he is often pictured as a pious angel, Cupid was actually the god of erotic love and beauty in Roman mythology. His mission was to make people fall in love or engage in physical intimacy.
There are two sides to Cupid's origins. To the Greeks, he was known as Eros, the son of Nyx (the goddess of the night) and Erebus (the symbol of darkness and shadow) who delighted in debauchery.
In the Roman version, Cupid was the son of Mars (the god of war) and Venus, the goddess of love. To the Romans, Cupid was a lively youth, a practical joker and one who liked to spread love.
Both versions, however, tell the same story. Cupid's mom Venus was extremely jealous of the beautiful Princess Psyche who was loved by the people.
Infuriated at the thought that more people were worshipping Psyche, Venus ordered Cupid to shoot the former with an arrow. Her goal was to make Psyche fall in love with the poorest and ugliest man in the world.
But Venus' evil plan went wrong. When Cupid saw Psyche, he was struck by her awesome beauty and dropped an arrow on his foot. That made him fall in love with the lovely princess.
"Following that, Cupid visited Psyche every night in his invisible form and told her not to try to see him. Psyche, though, incited by her two older sisters who told her Cupid was a monster, tried to look at him and angered Cupid. When he left, she looked all over the known world for him until at last the leader of the gods, Jupiter, gave Psyche the gift of immortality so that she could be with him. Together they had a daughter, Voluptas (Pleasure) and Psyche became a goddess of the soul," according to the editors of Wikipedia.
Through the years, Cupid has emerged as a popular symbol of Valentine's Day. This famous icon and his tale of undying love have inspired lovers throughout the world.
Now that Valentine's Day is just around the corner, here's a brief history of this timeless character who brings lovers together and mends broken hearts.
Of course, Cupid generally needs no introduction. He's that little boy with wings who shoots arrows that turn people into lovers. He is seen as either nude or diapered and is sometimes blindfolded - hence the expression "love is blind."
Cupid's name comes from the Latin word "cupido" which means desire. Although he is often pictured as a pious angel, Cupid was actually the god of erotic love and beauty in Roman mythology. His mission was to make people fall in love or engage in physical intimacy.
There are two sides to Cupid's origins. To the Greeks, he was known as Eros, the son of Nyx (the goddess of the night) and Erebus (the symbol of darkness and shadow) who delighted in debauchery.
In the Roman version, Cupid was the son of Mars (the god of war) and Venus, the goddess of love. To the Romans, Cupid was a lively youth, a practical joker and one who liked to spread love.
Both versions, however, tell the same story. Cupid's mom Venus was extremely jealous of the beautiful Princess Psyche who was loved by the people.
Infuriated at the thought that more people were worshipping Psyche, Venus ordered Cupid to shoot the former with an arrow. Her goal was to make Psyche fall in love with the poorest and ugliest man in the world.
But Venus' evil plan went wrong. When Cupid saw Psyche, he was struck by her awesome beauty and dropped an arrow on his foot. That made him fall in love with the lovely princess.
"Following that, Cupid visited Psyche every night in his invisible form and told her not to try to see him. Psyche, though, incited by her two older sisters who told her Cupid was a monster, tried to look at him and angered Cupid. When he left, she looked all over the known world for him until at last the leader of the gods, Jupiter, gave Psyche the gift of immortality so that she could be with him. Together they had a daughter, Voluptas (Pleasure) and Psyche became a goddess of the soul," according to the editors of Wikipedia.
Through the years, Cupid has emerged as a popular symbol of Valentine's Day. This famous icon and his tale of undying love have inspired lovers throughout the world.
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So the next time you celebrate Valentine's Day, don't forget the story of Cupid. To make sure that you do it in style, nothing is more romantic than sending your loved one a bouquet of beautiful red roses or other special flowers professionally designed and hand delivered by your local florist. For details, visit http://www.discountflowerdeliverycanton.info/.
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