Cupid is originally from Roman mythology. He was known to be the god of erotic love and beauty. He also goes by his Latin name, Amor, and is the son of Venus, the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, and Mercury, the god of trade, profit, and commerce. Cupid is most famously associated with the image of a boy shooting a bow to inspire romantic love.

The Greeks had their own version of the myth. Cupid was referred to as Eros and was thought to be one of the primordial gods. This means he was one of the first gods born at the beginning of our universe. In this version of the legend, he was also depicted with a bow and quiver of arrows, along with wings. Both cultures have almost identical stories following the ancient god. His mother, Venus, was jealous of the princess Psyche. The princess was so beautiful and beloved by her subjects that her subjects forgot to worship Venus. The goddess was so enraged she ordered her son, Cupid, to use his bow and make Psyche fall in love with the vilest thing in the world. Cupid flew quietly into Psyche’s room one night after finally agreeing to his mother’s demands and goes to scratch her shoulder with an arrow so that she will fall in love with the first thing she sees. Venus had planned to place a disgusting creature in her room for when she woke. However, Psyche woke before Cupid had the chance to mark her and was astounded as, though he was invisible, the princess looked directly into his eyes. He was so taken aback that he accidentally scratched himself with his arrow and immediately fell in love with Psyche himself.

Every night after, Cupid would visit Psyche whilst she slept. He would keep himself invisible so that she could not see him and told her never to even try to see him. The princess, though told by her two older sisters that Cupid was a monster, tried to look at him. This greatly angered the god and he left her. Psyche looked all over the known world for his without success. Everywhere she went, Venus caused havoc and made her life a misery. Eventually, Cupid forgave Psyche and flew to her aid. He desperately wanted to be with her, so went to Jupiter, the leader of the gods, and begged him for his help. Jupiter called a full and formal council of the gods at Mount Olympus and granted Cupid his wish. He gifted Psyche with immortality so that she could be with him forever. Together, they had a daughter called either Voluptus or Hedone and Psyche became a goddess. Eventually she and Venus begrudgingly forgave each other. The name Psyche means soul.

Cupid has since become a symbol for Valentine’s Day. Most commonly, he is represented as a male baby with wings, wearing a nappy, and holding a bow and arrow. Occasionally with arrow tip will be in the shape of a heart.

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