The geneology of Cupid is somwhat confused. Some Roman and Greek writers said he was the offspring of Aphrodite (Venus) by Ares (Mars) while others claimed that his father was Zeus (Jupiter), or Hermes (Mercury).

Cupid was represented as a wanton boy with bow and arrows. His eyes are often depicted as being covered so that he shoots his arrows blindly.

Cupid's arrows could pierce the fish at the bottom of the sea, the birds in the sky, and even the gods in the heavens. His favourite place was on the island of Cyprus.

Later poets embellished the story, creating analogous deities. For example Aneros ('return love') was a deity whose function was to punish those who did not return the love of others.

A Great festival with games, the Cerealia, was held in honour of the goddess Ceres, and her worship acquired great importance in the city. The decrees of the Senate were deposited in her temple for the inspection of the Tribunes and the People.

Cupid in Roman Mythology

Cupid was the god of love in Roman mythology. The name Cupid is a variation on Cupido ("desire"), and this god was also known by the name Amor ("love"). It was commonly believed that Cupid was the son of Venus - the Roman goddess of love - and this association between Venus and Cupid was quite popular in myth, poetry, literature, and art.

The ancient Romans often depicted Cupid as winged child or baby who carried a bow and quiver full of arrows. Indeed, the Roman poet Ovid seems to delight in portraying Cupid as a willful and capricious child in many of his poems from the Amores and the Art of Love. It is also from these collections of poetry that we get a wonderfully vivid description of the god of love:

"Cupid's there, quiver reversed, bow broken,

Holding a burnt-out torch.

See how sadly he walks, poor child, wings drooping,

How he beats at his bared breast,

How the tears rain down on his hair, now lying all tangled

About his throat, and his mouth's a loud O of grief.

Thus he looked, they say, long ago, when he saw his

Brother Aeneas to the grave..."

And while the idea that Cupid was a child with wings appealed to many poets and artists, there were also different conceptions of this important god. One of the most memorable myths about Cupid involves his relationship with the beautiful woman named Psyche. The tale of Cupid and Psyche is told in the Metamorphoses of Apuleius.

Cupid's counterpart in Greek mythology was known as Eros.

Who's Who in Classical Mythology This book is a great source for information about Greek and Roman mythology! Organized alphabetically, this who's who features information about over 1200 of the most intriguing characters from Classical myth and legend.	Bulfinch's Mythology The stories of Classical myth come to life in Bulfinch's book. This edition also features legends from other cultures.	Mythography Forums Do you have a specific question about Greek, Roman, and Celtic mythology? Then try the Mythography forum!

The Bibliography

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