Eros by

Eros, the Greek God of Love and Sexual Desire

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Eros and Aphrodite

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There are writings of Eros and Himeros (god of Desire), being with Aphrodite at the time of her birth from the sea foam.

Some writers interpreted this to mean the two were born of the goddess immediately following her birth or else alongside her from the sea foam. This writing was popular in ancient art where the two flutter around the goddess as she reclines inside a conch shell.

The Erotes Eros, Himeros and Pothos, British Museum

cdfollmer — 2024-01-24 23:48:17 UTC

Eros joined Himeros, the god of Desire, and Pothos, the god of Passion, and are known as the Erotes.

Eros was the one who lit the flame of love in the hearts of the gods and men, armed with either a bow and arrows or a flaming torch.

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"he is purely the god of sensual love, who bears sway over the inhabitants of Olympus as well as over men and all living creatures"

The Tale of Eros and Psyche

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In the folktale of the ancient Greco-Roman, Aphrodite is jealous of the beauty of mortal Psyche, as men are leaving her altars empty to worship a human woman instead. She then commands her son Eros to pierce the girl with an arrow and cause Psyche to fall in love with the ugliest creature on earth as punishment. Eros ends up falling in love with Psyche and marries her.

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The representation of Eros on a dolphin occurs as early as the 5th century BC, but retained its popularity throughout antiquity, appearing on gems, coins, and in other mediums.

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Eros in Art

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Phanes (Eros)

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Phanes was the first primordial deity, in the first generation of gods and goddesses, in the Orphic cosmogony.

The Tale of Eros and Psyche

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Their relationship was ruined after a visit from Psyche's jealous sisters, who caused Psyche to betray her husband. Eros then leaves his wife and Psyche wanders the earth, looking for her lost love.

cdfollmer — 2024-01-25 00:15:21 UTC

"The goodness of this god is such that it has been said that no one has ever injured him, and no one has ever been injured by him. For no violence is present in his dealings, and whenever he is revered, right and just agreement is reached, and friendship, and concord."

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Sculptors preferred the image of the bow-armed boy, whereas mosaic artists preferred the image of a Cupid, Eros, a winged baby.

Origin Myths

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Eros has a few origin myths.

In Hesiod's Theogony, he is one of the first primordial gods of procreation, he was born from Chaos. Also known as Phanes.

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Also known as "cupid" in Latin, and "amor" (love in Spanish).

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A 'younger Eros' is believed to have been the son of the goddess of Love, Aphrodite, or her companion. There is a lack of clarity on who the father Eros is, yet in different Greek writings, the possibilities have been Zeus, Ares, or Hermes.

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known as "the father of all gods, and the creator of men."

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Phanes

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"hear my prayer, twofold, egg-born, and wandering through the air; bull-roarer, glorying in thy golden wings, from whom the race of Gods and mortal springs."

- Orphic Hymn 6 to Protogonus (trans. Taylor) (Greek hymns C3rd B.C. to 2nd A.D.)

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"His arrows are of different power: some are golden, and kindle love in the heart they wound; others are blunt and heavy with lead, and produce aversion to a lover."

cdfollmer — 2024-01-25 01:30:03 UTC

Eros is further represented with golden wings, and as fluttering about like a bird. (Comp. Eustath. ad Hom. p. 987.) His eyes are sometimes covered, so that he acts blindly. (Theocrit. x. 20.)

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"the gods are said to give special honour to Love, and particularly to the courage that comes with him."

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"Eros is believed to have a dual nature, being neither female nor male."

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