Words of Wisdom from SharLeigh

CUPID & THE VALENTINE CONNECTION

Is Cupid a classical angelic figure or just an idea created for greeting cards? According to ancient Greek and Roman mythology, Eros (in Greek mythology) or Cupid (in Roman mythology) was the god of love and desire. The Greek’s art shows Eros as a winged, youthful man carrying a bow and arrow, always ready to shoot the hearts of gods or mortals to arouse desire in them. Eros always carried two kinds of arrows – gold for love and lead for indifference. He usually made mischief with his bow by wounding hearts. He was depicted in literature as being bitter sweet and cruel, yet at the same time he was beautiful to look at and very charming. But alas, as with all male gods or mortals, he saw a woman and fell in love. His love was Psyche – a beautiful mortal woman. Eros would visit Psyche every night, but would not allow her to light a candle or lamp because he wished to stay hidden from her eyes. She fell in love with Eros even though she could not see him. But one night, curiosity got the best of her, and while Eros slept, she lit a candle and viewed him. Psyche was so taken aback by his beautiful form that she carelessly let some wax drip onto Eros. Eros awoke, and in his anger at her disobedience, he fled. Psyche tried to find him, for she did not know Eros was a god. In vain, she roamed the earth until Zeus, the supreme god of all gods, took pity on her and reunited them. The Romans borrowed the Eros legend from the Greeks but renamed him Cupid (Cupido is the Latin term for desire). The connection between Cupid, Valentine’s Day and Valentine Cards is an easy one to make when one knows the mythology of the god of love and desire. Therefore, it would be natural to show Cupid with wings and bow drawn. But where did the cherub part of this come in? Well, isn’t it more innocent to visualize a sweet little cherub on a Valentine’s Day card than a winged, full-grown, naked man carrying a bow? Somehow, that image just wouldn’t get it done when wishing to send your loved one the very best!