Eros: The God of Love in Greek Mythology

In Greek mythology, Eros is the god of love and desire, known to the Romans as Cupid. Over time, his story changed, starting as a powerful force of creation and later becoming a playful deity connected to romance. These changes reflect the different ways people see love and its power.

At first, Eros was seen as one of the oldest gods, born right after the universe was created. According to Hesiod’s Theogony (about 700 BCE), Eros was the fourth being to exist, after Chaos, Gaia (Earth), and Tartarus. In this version, Eros wasn’t a person but the force that brought things together to create harmony and life. Later, Eros was given a more human-like form. In Aristophanes’s play The Birds (414 BCE), he is humorously described as hatching from an egg laid by Night and fertilized by the wind. With golden wings, he became a symbol of life and creation.

Over time, Eros was reimagined as the son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. He was shown as a playful boy carrying a bow and arrows. These arrows could make people or gods fall in love or avoid it, showing how unpredictable love can be. Eros often worked with his mother, creating both joy and chaos in the lives of mortals and gods. In one story from Argonautica, Eros made Medea fall in love with Jason, leading to a tragic tale.

One of the most famous myths about Eros is his love story with Psyche, a beautiful mortal princess. Told in Apuleius’s The Golden Ass, the story explores themes of trust and forgiveness. Jealous of Psyche’s beauty, Aphrodite ordered Eros to make her fall in love with an ugly creature. Instead, Eros fell for Psyche and took her to his secret palace. Their happiness ended when Psyche, influenced by her sisters, broke Eros’s trust. Heartbroken, Eros left her. Psyche wandered the earth searching for him, enduring challenges from Aphrodite. Finally, she earned Zeus’s favor and became immortal. Reunited, Eros and Psyche had a daughter, Hedone, meaning “pleasure.” This story shows how love can be full of challenges but also growth and rewards.

Eros has inspired art and literature for centuries. In ancient Greece, he was often shown as a handsome, winged youth. Later, he became the chubby Cupid we see today. This change reflects how people’s views on love shifted, from something powerful and unpredictable to something more sentimental. Philosophers also saw Eros as important. Zeno, who founded Stoicism, thought of Eros as the god of friendship and unity. In Athens, people worshipped him alongside Aphrodite, and they dedicated the fourth day of each month to them.

The ancient Greeks held festivals like the Erotidia in Thespiae to honor Eros. These events included music, sports, and sacrifices, celebrating love’s connection to life and energy. In places like Sparta, soldiers even prayed to Eros before battles, believing he inspired courage and loyalty among them.

Eros’s bow and arrows represent how love can create or destroy. His connection to roses and bees shows how love can be beautiful but also painful. Even today, Eros’s image is seen on Valentine’s Day cards, reminding us of the lasting power of love. Beneath the modern, cheerful image of Cupid lies a deeper story of love’s complexity and strength.

Eros, the Greek god of love, is a timeless figure whose stories reveal the many sides of love—its joys, struggles, and ability to transform lives. From his ancient role as a creator to his adventures with Psyche, Eros symbolizes how love has always been central to human life and imagination.