116) (Greek elegiac C4th A.D.) :
he flies around butt-naked and shouts people with his love arrows. His brother was Anteros, the god of mutual love, who was sometimes described as his opponent. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) Eros was a primeval god, "son" of Chaos, the original primeval emptiness of the universe; but later tradition made him the son of Aphrodite, goddess of sexual love and beauty, by either Zeus (the king of the gods), Ares (god of war and of battle), or Hermes (divine messenger of the gods). If all things come from you, friendly shepherd of life, draw one shot more and save all things. . Siblings. Translated by Frank Justus Miller, Classical Texts Library, Theoi Project, 2017. In this context, Eros no longer made sense as an abstract primordial force. Some stories say Eros is the child of Iris and Zephyrus, and early sources, such as Aristophanes, say he is the offspring of Nyx and Erebus, or Chaos itself, which would make him quite an old god indeed. (Paus. Ge (Gaea, Earth), Aer (Air) [meaning Aither, the upper air] and Ouranos (Uranus, Heaven) had no existence. Eros, the Greek god of love, is typically considered to be the child of Aphrodite. 700 bce), Eros was a primeval god, son of Chaos, the original primeval emptiness of the universe, but later tradition made him the son of Aphrodite, goddess of sexual love and beauty, by either Zeus (the king of the gods), Ares (god of war and of battle), or Hermes (divine messenger of the gods). Eros didn't have too many boundaries when it came to making people fall in love, and was considered the protector of same-sex love as well as hetero relationships. To see how Eros fits within the Greek pantheon, view the family tree of Greek gods and goddesses.
Like the daimones, they represented a singular idea, but they were much more powerful than these minor personification gods. Eros’ mother is called Penia – Poverty – and her father Poros – Resource. The story of Cupid and Psyche has been passed down to us only through Roman sources, but Greek images of Psyche suggest that the story was told in the pre-Roman era as well. In Archaic art he was represented as a beautiful winged youth but tended to be made younger and younger until, by the Hellenistic period, he was an infant. Edited by Aaron J Atsma. So Alkman (Alcman) represents the matter of all things as confused and unformed." West) (Greek epic C4th to C6th A.D.) : Cicero, De Natura Deorum 3. The shedding of tears is for thee a sweet delight and to hear the deep-wrung groan; to inflame a burning redness in the heart and to blight and wither the bloom upon the cheek, to make the eyes hollow and to wrest all the mind to madness.
The younger Eros, a mischievous godling armed with bow and arrows, was a son of the goddess Aphrodite.
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Select Papyri III, No.
Eros in later literature was not a primal force, but a being who could be commanded by the goddess of beauty. In Greek mythology, Anteros (Ancient Greek: Ἀντέρως Antérōs) was the god of requited love, literally "love returned" or "counter-love" and also the punisher of those who scorn love and the advances of others, or the avenger of unrequited love. ], Plato, Timaeus 178a (trans. "[Plato reorders some of Alkman's (Alcman's) cosmogony in a fable :] Poros (Expediency), who is the son of Metis [i.e. Within a few generations, however, he was considered to be one of the youngest of the gods. It is possible that Eros did not appear as an autonomous deity of fecundity and reproduction, but instead as the fertility aspect of Aphrodite's worship. ix. The was not always seen as the child of the goddess of beauty, however. According to Diotima, what everyone loves is really nothing other than?
As the pantheon expanded, however, later writers began to give more attention to the relationships between the gods. Family Tree of Zeus. The Erotidia happened in March or April, and was an event full of sporting events, games, and art.
Eros was the god of love, like Aphrodite. A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. Interestingly, scholars seem to disagree on whether or not Eros was a god who functioned independently of others, or whether he always appeared complementary to Aphrodite. The ambiguity regarding the origins of Eros illustrates the ways in which Greek mythology developed and grew over time. Get kids back-to-school ready with Expedition: Learn! Lamb) (Greek philosopher C4th B.C.) The early primordial gods had little form beyond their function. You might be familiar with the Greek god of love, but how well do you know his family? ", Alcman, Fragment 5 (from Scholia) (trans. Also known as Cupid, Eros could shoot gods or mortals with his arrows and cause them to fall in love with one another.
Select Papyri III, No. : Aphrodite had been married before, however, to the smith god Hephaestus. "Verily at first Khaos (Chaos, the Chasm) [Air] came to be, but next wide-bosomed Gaia (Gaea, Earth), the ever-sure foundation of al1 the deathless ones who hold the peaks of snowy Olympos, and dim Tartaros (the Pit) in the depth of the wide-pathed Earth, and Eros (Love) [Procreation], fairest among the deathless gods, who unnerves the limbs and overcomes the mind and wise counsels of all gods and all men within them. Eros was always associated more with the goddess of love than the god of war, so Aphrodite was usually given as his mother even when no father was specified. As the stories became more detailed, a tradition even emerged that she had tried to pass Eros off as the son of Hephaestus when she was still married to him. Rackham) (Roman rhetorician C1st B.C.)
Eros, the Greek god of love, is an important player in many myths and legends. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : Aphrodite opposed the marriage on the basis that the human girl was not a good enough match for her beloved son.
In Plato's Symposium (p. 178,b) he is likewise called the oldest of the gods. Mair) (Greek poet C3rd A.D.) : Anonymous, Moral Maxims (trans. He was also equivalent to Thesis (Creation) and Physis, (Nature). In one account of Ares and Aphrodite falling in love, for example, Eros pricks the god of war with one of his arrows to begin their affair. "Firstly, ancient Khaos's (Chaos') stern Ananke (Inevitability), and Khronos (Chronos, Time), who bred within his boundless coils Aither (Aether, Light) and two-sexed, two-faced, glorious Eros [Phanes], ever-born Nyx's (Night's) father, whom latter men call Phanes, for he first was manifested. The earth is steadfast; yet is it shaken by thy shafts. The reason for all of these believed parents was because some think that love started everything on earth. The Orphics named him Phanes, a primal being hatched from the world-egg. Over time, writers presented the gods as more individualized with distinct, human-like personalities. Nor doth the race of Heaven suffice thee nor the breed of men; thou rejectest not the wild beasts nor all the brood of the barren air; under the coverts of the nether deep dost thou descend and even among the finny tribes thou dost array thy darkling shafts; that naught may be left ignorant of thy compelling power, not even the fish that swims beneath the waters. First, says Hesiod (Theog. The Greek idea of romantic love was linked to attraction and desirability, and beauty was the source of this feeling. Please like and share this article if you found it useful. Although he didn't have dozens of consorts, as is the case with many other gods, having a family tree on hand as you study or read can help clear up some of the confusion surrounding the family relationships of this important deity. Understanding Eros' family relationships and his role in the Greek pantheon can bring extra dimension to your study of Greek mythology or literature.
In fact, the word erotic comes from his name. Callistratus' summary is extremely poetic... and borders on the erotic. Eros is a son of Aphrodite so he delivers the love his mom makes. EROS was the primordial god (protogenos) of procreation who emerged self-formed at the dawn of creation. The marriage of the god of love was marked by the reaction of his mother. Découvrez comment nous utilisons vos informations dans notre Politique relative à la vie privée et notre Politique relative aux cookies. "Mighty Eros (Love), how great art thou! In the Roman legend, Venus scolded Cupid and threatened to disown him if he persisted with the relationship. In the city of Athens, Eros was honored side by side at the acropolis with Aphrodite, starting around the fifth century B.C. According to the former, Eros was one of the fundamental causes in the formation of the world, inasmuch as he was the uniting power of love, which brought order and harmony among the conflicting elements of which Chaos consisted. ], Nonnus, Dionysiaca 24. Aphrodite had many ways to do this. ", Anonymous, Moral Maxims (trans. The stories became more personal, with more emphasis on emotion. After all, spring is the season of fertility, so what better time to celebrate a god of passion and lust? To learn more about Eros' aunts and uncles, view Zeus' family tree. In the sense in which he is usually conceived, Eros is the creature of the later Greek poets; and in order to understand the ancients properly we must distinguish three Erotes: viz. 695) he is described as the first of the gods, who sprang from the world's egg.
: Plato, Timaeus 178a (trans.
EROS (Erôs), in Latin, AMOR or CUPI′DO, the god of love.
Tekmor] considering her own straitened circumstances, plotted to have a child by him, and accordingly she lay down at his side and conceived Eros (Sexual Desire).".
We have wings and we lend assistance to lovers.
: Eros was often connected to Aphrodite’s retinue, so Ares was the most commonly-named god as his father. During the classical Roman period, Eros evolved into Cupid, portrayed as the chubby cherub that still remains as a popular image today. ", Oppian, Halieutica 4. 1.4.
Poros (resource) and Penia (poverty) According to Diotima, a lover seeks his other half only when? In the same metaphysical sense he is conceived by Aristotle (Metaph. Many of the primordial gods are well-known today. You might be familiar with the Greek god of love, but how well do you know his family?
. Many thou doest even roll to doom even those whom thou meetest in wild and wintry sort, fraught with frenzy; for in such festivals is thy delight. Eros (Twin-Brother) In one myth, Himeros and his twin brother Eros, were present when Aphrodite emerged from the sea foam. O'Neill) (Greek comedy C5th to 4th B.C.)
His Roman counterpart was Cupid ("desire"). He played a more active role and thus needed more personality and agency than the other earliest gods. SHARES. How many handsome youths, who had sworn to remain insensible, have opened their thighs because of our power and have yielded themselves to their lovers when almost at the end of their youth, being led away by the gift of a quail, a waterfowl, a goose, or a cock. Aphrodite & Ares.
Like many gods, there were many conflicting stories regarding the origins of Eros. c. Eros, they claimed, was one of the oldest forces in the universe. "Descriptions." By thy might thou dost pass afar, beyond what the shining sun doth ever behold: to thy fire even the light yields place for fear and the thunderbolts of Zeus likewise give place. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!)
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