Armed with a powerful bow and a collection of threatening arrows, Cupid was the Roman god of love who was constantly affecting the emotions of his many fellow gods. Originally the mythology associated with Cupid was from the Greeks. “The god the Romans knew as Cupid was adapted from the Greek god, Eros.”1 On any occasion, whenever one was struck with one of Cupid’s golden arrows one would fall in love with whomever Cupid wanted. However, if one were struck by an arrow made out of lead, one would be repulsed by whoever Cupid decided.
One of the most acknowledged myths about Cupid, written by Apuleius in his Metamorphoses, involved the mortal princess Psyche. There are many other versions of this story, and in most of these Cupid is portrayed to be a passionate lover. “Cupid and Psyche, is … a tale of the quest for divine knowledge and the failings of the human spirit.”2 When Venus, Cupid’s mother, first met Psyche, who was a beautiful young woman, she realized how jealous she was of Psyche, and ordered Cupid to use his arrows to ruin her love life. Venus demanded that Cupid shoot Psyche with an arrow, so that when he strikes Psyche she must be looking “toward a creature so hideous that mortals will be filled with loathing.”3 While Cupid was getting ready to strike her, he became fascinated by her elegance; he lost hold of his arrow and ended up hitting his leg. From this moment forward he did whatever he could to make sure that she would be his forever. Zephyrus, god of the west winds, came as an accomplice to help Cupid. They took her to a grove of trees, which she saw as a superior palace. After entering this lavish but skimpy palace, a voice invited her to eat in what was said to be her new home.4 She received noticed that her supposed morbid lover would be there to meet her at nightfall. The voice declared “I am your husband. I will visit with you every evening but, unfortunately, I must leave before the first sign of morning. Never, ever ask or try to see me!”5
For a while Psyche was satisfied with this platonic love with Cupid, not knowing who he was, but simply believing he was her destined lover.6 Although she became accustomed to this new lifestyle, she found herself missing her family. Cupid, her after-dark lover, granted her permission to have her sisters join her.7 Unfortunately, rather than being grateful to see their sister, they were overly jealous and planted ideas in Psyche’s head to trick her unknown lover.8 “They suggest that her lover is a serpent who changes into the form of a youth at night, a monster who will at last devour her.”9 They told her to have a knife and lamp with her while she was sleeping so that when he came for his nightly visit she would be able to slay him as he sleeps.
Naively, Psyche prepared herself to see a man who she had fallen hopeless for. Ready to strike him, she brought the lamp close enough to see him.10 When she looked at this beautiful young man, she became defenseless. He awoke to see her paralyzed by what she had seen. “With the warning that love cannot live with suspicion, he leaves the palace.”11 Psyche woke up to find that the palace had been dispersed, and she went to search for her forbidden lover. Cupid decided to take his anger out on her sisters by leading them to “the arms of Death to welcome them.”12 While Psyche searched for some answers, she was turned away by everyone, finding herself confronted by Venus. Instead of Venus killing Psyche, she decided that the best thing to do would be to keep her as a slave.13
In order for Venus not to kill Psyche, she decided to let her live only by having her complete a new task for her everyday. “Psyche’s first task is to sort a huge pile of mixed seeds and grain into separate heaps, with the warning that if there is so much as one seed in the wrong pile she will be punished.”14 Psyche took forever to complete this tedious task; so Cupid decided to intervene, and he demanded a myriad of ants to finish it off for her. For whatever odd reason, she was asked to put together a golden fleece for Venus from all of her sheep. Psyche was frighten to attempt this in the daylight, so she stayed up until all had fallen asleep.15 After having succeeded at that task, Psyche was then challenged to go the river that flowed around the mischievous underworld, to fill up a jug with black water. Cleverly, Cupid came to rescue his mortal princess, and had an eagle fly to get and bring back the water for her. Venus accepted the water but planned that her next task would be to kill Psyche by having her travel to the land of the dead. She was told that she needed to acquire a bit of the dazzling goddess Proserpine in a golden box. Venus made a compromise that if she completed this task, already knowing Psyche would not survive it, she would treat her better in the future. Psyche realized that this task was an impossible one, and despairing, she decided to commit suicide. Before doing this, a voice told her that there was a way for her to complete this unattainable task.16
Believing this voice that had guided her in the past, she attempted to accomplish the task. She followed all the steps she was given.17 Thinking she would be able to obtain whatever remained in the box, she decided to open it. Needless to say, she ended up falling into an unconscious sleep brimming with nightmares.18 Without Cupid coming to her rescue, she could have been trapped in her sleep, tormented, forever.
After having sent Psyche with the box to his mother, Cupid then began to beg with Jupiter for Psyche to be made immortal.19 Jupiter decided to let Psyche join them in this immortal world, once hearing Cupid’s petition. There she drank a cup of ambrosia that Jupiter handed her, and became an immortal goddess.20
It was only then that Cupid and Psyche were able to remain unified for an eternal life together.
- Salem Press Encyclopedia, 2016, s.v. “Cupid (Mythology),” by Janine Ungvarsky. ↵
- Salem Press Encyclopedia of Literature, 2015, s.v. “Cupid and Psyche,” by T. Fleischmann Mfa. ↵
- E. N. Genovese, “Cupid and Psyche,” Masterplots, Fourth Edition, November 2010, 2. ↵
- Salem Press Encyclopedia of Literature, 2015, s.v. “Cupid and Psyche,” by T. Fleischmann Mfa. ↵
- Rosalie F. Baker “What if the Goddess of Love was your mother-in-law?,” Calliope vol. 23 no. 3 (Nov/Dec 2012): 19. ↵
- S. Parker and P. Murgatroyd, “Love Poetry and Apuleius’ ‘Cupid and Psyche,’” The Classical Quarterly 52, no. 1 (2002): 402. ↵
- E. N. Genovese, “Cupid and Psyche,” Masterplots, Fourth Edition, November 2010, 2. ↵
- Rosalie F. Baker “What if the Goddess of Love was your mother-in-law?,” Calliope vol. 23 no. 3 (Nov/Dec 2012): 20. ↵
- E. N. Genovese, “Cupid and Psyche,” Masterplots, Fourth Edition, November 2010, 2. ↵
- Salem Press Encyclopedia of Literature, 2015, s.v. “Cupid and Psyche,” by T. Fleischmann Mfa. ↵
- E. N. Genovese, “Cupid and Psyche,” Masterplots, Fourth Edition, November 2010, 2. ↵
- E. N. Genovese, “Cupid and Psyche,” Masterplots, Fourth Edition, November 2010, 2. ↵
- Rosalie F. Baker “What if the Goddess of Love was your mother-in-law?,” Calliope vol. 23 no. 3 (Nov/Dec 2012): 22. ↵
- E. N. Genovese, “Cupid and Psyche,” Masterplots, Fourth Edition, November 2010, 2. ↵
- Salem Press Encyclopedia of Literature, 2015, s.v. “Cupid and Psyche,” by T. Fleischmann Mfa . ↵
- E. N. Genovese, “Cupid and Psyche,” Masterplots, Fourth Edition, November 2010, 2. ↵
- E. N. Genovese, “Cupid and Psyche,” Masterplots, Fourth Edition, November 2010, 2. ↵
- Salem Press Encyclopedia of Literature, 2015, s.v. “Cupid and Psyche,” by T. Fleischmann Mfa . ↵
- Kirsten Hall, “‘It Is All One’: Hetty Sorrel and the Myth of Cupid and Psyche,” Renascence: Essays on Values in Literature 67, no. 4 (Fall 2015): 289. ↵
- Salem Press Encyclopedia of Literature, 2015 “Cupid and Psyche,” by T. Fleischmann Mfa. ↵
122 comments
Thomas Fraire
Everything worked out for Cupid at last, and reverse discharges for Venus. I thought it was unusual that he welcomed her to remain in a castle, yet be gone throughout the day. I figure he was simply bustling shooting individuals with bolts throughout the day. I likewise thought it was befuddling that Venus was simply the person who uncovered, yet not Cupid. Venus additionally appeared to have this desirous malevolence relative vibe about her in this story. When I read that Psyche fell into a profound rest overflowing with bad dreams, I felt that was an awful discipline than suicide. I didn’t know whether there would be a cheerful closure, ordinarily there isn’t the point at which it includes Gods and people, however Psyche could wind up everlasting which is the thing that she merits subsequent to everything Cupid and Venus put her through.
Destiny Flores
So close to valentine’s day, the famous holiday icon-cupid, is seen everywhere. Being surrounded by him once a year, I never really knew there was much of a back story. Its interesting to know that it has more to do with greek mythology than I could have ever guessed. Behind this simple, arrow-shooting, figure with wings, theres a tale of drama, love, pain, and betrayal.
Belia Camarena
The title of this article is great. It really caught my attention, and I liked the use of humor. Overall, this article was extremely well written and I loved the narrative quality that it had. I had always known that Cupid was the god of love, and that he could make others fall in love by shooting them with golden tipped arrows. However, I did not know that he himself fell in love with Psyche, and I thought the ending to their story was very cute.
Fumei P.
Everything worked out for Cupid in the end, and back fired for Venus. I thought it was strange that he invited her to stay in a palace, yet be gone all day. I guess he was just busy shooting people with arrows all day long. I also thought it was confusing that Venus was the one who revealed herself, but not Cupid. Venus also seemed to have this jealous evil mother in-law vibe about her in this story. When I read that Psyche fell into a deep sleep brimming with nightmares, I thought that was a worse punishment than suicide. I wasn’t sure if there would be a happy ending, usually there isn’t when it involves Gods and humans, but Psyche was able to become immortal which is what she deserves after everything Cupid and Venus put her through
Nathan Hudson
This is quite a beautiful story, probably one of my favorites after reading it. I only knew who cupid was, and to read the story of Psyche showed me that there was so much more. Jealousy is such a terrible emotion, it leads people of all cultures to do terrible things to the people they love. It was so good to read how cupid kept fighting for his love and ultimately got what he wanted.
Cristina Cabello
I really did not know about the whole story behind cupid. I just knew that he could make people fall in love. It is crazy how people can come up with these kinds of stories. People are so talented and creative. I feel like all of my stories are too random and boring. But I really liked how well this article was put together. They should make a movie off of this.
Arianna Kennet
Wow. I did not know that this was the history behind the whole “cupid and his bow and arrow” saying. This was a really interesting story, I must say. To think that Cupid’s own mother, Psyche, wanted the love of her son’s life to be dead, is oddly enough comparable to the whole “mother and daughter in law hate” in today’s world.
Natalie Childs
I thoroughly enjoyed this article. As a few other people mentioned, all I knew about Cupid was that he was a God that went around shooting people either with arrows of gold or lead, for whichever outcome he desired. I never knew the story of Psyche, and I am very happy that I got to read about her’s and Cupid love affair.
Maria Esquivel
I never heard the story of Cupid and Psyche, only that Cupid was a child who made people fall in love. It’s fascinating to know the real story of Cupid and who Cupid really was as the love matchmaker. Very interesting how Cupid never left Psyche and always took care of her as he promised, and in the end they were finally able to be together, forever. How wonderful!
Rebekah Esquivel
This was such an interesting article. Whenever people hear the name cupid i’m sure the first things that pop in their head is chocolates, giant teddy bears, and card with candy attached to them. I have never heard the real story behind the name Cupid. I think it is pretty cool how stories and people from history can evolve into something such as Valentine’s Day. This is definitely a crazy love story and I am happy that Cupid and Psych were finally able to live happy together. Now every year we celebrate love on Valentine’s Day thanks to Cupid.