The Role Of Eros In Ancient Greece

Eros Eros was a primeval God, son of Chaos, the original primeval emptiness of the universe, but later made him the son of Aphrodite, goddess of sexual and love. In some myths, he was considered a primordial god, a child of Chaos, who blessed the union Gaia and Uranus after the universe came into existence. Later in works by satirical poets, he was depicted as the blind folded male with a bow and arrow. He could target any human and make them fall in love with the first person they would see. One of the prevalent myths in ancient Greece was that of Eros and Psyche according to it, Aphrodite was jealous of the beauty of the mortal princess Psyche. Aphrodite told her son (Eros) to make Psyche fall in love with the ugliest creature on earth.
Aphrodite created tasks which she successfully passed and hence. Aphrodite decided to concede. Since then Psyche became immortal and united with her husband. They had a daughter, Hedone (meaning bliss).With no warning he strikes for the heart. Bringing confusion and irrepressible feeling or in words of Hesiod he ‘loosens the limbs and weakens the mind’. Eros is a carefree and beautiful youth. He is crowned with flowers, especially roses which were closely associated with the god. They say Eros represented a universal love. Eros had a younger brother (Anteros), who’s was a much darker figure and avenger of unrequited love. One of the most famous episodes involving this trick was when Apollo ridiculed the skills of Eros as an archer and fired one of the arrows at the great god. This made them fall in love with nymph Daphne. Another is when he made Medea fall in love with the great hero Jason. The god was not himself immune to the powers of love and famously fell for and married Psyche against the wishes of his mother Aphrodite. Eros was also considered as the protector of homosexual love. In the ancient Greek art from the 6th century BCE Eros is usually depicted as an adolescent with wings and he often carries a wreath of