Hemali AdhiyaThe love story of Eros and Psyche comes from the historic love stories from Greek Mythology, one that speaks the language of true, unconditional love!
Be it cupid’s arrow of love or the Gods of the underworld, the love stories from Greek mythology have always been enthralling to read. I don’t know about the rest of the world, but back in school, we read a book about the Greek myths, and some of those stories were so touching and stirring, that I could never get them off my mind. It’s been ages since then, but many don’t know of the wondrous love stories from these times. Out of the many, the love story of Eros and Psyche was my most favorite because it is Cupid’s love story!
Let’s take a look at the love story of Eros and Psyche that promotes the universal concept of love. Be it in the yesteryears, today, in any religion, or just the modern forms of love- if it’s held together with the root of love, it has the capacity to bloom into a fruit-bearing tree.
The Love Story of Eros and Psyche
Cupid’s Love Story
It isn’t possible that the God of Love doesn’t fall in love himself, and that gave birth to the love story of Eros and Psyche. Eros, also popularly known as Cupid, and Psyche’s story is not a simple story of just love. It is the story of betrayal, pain, and tragedy, qualifying for a typical love story of the olden times.
One of the most famous love stories from Greek mythology, this story is about a mortal woman, Psyche, who was admired for her heavenly beauty. Born in an ordinary family with two sister’s she received much attention from men. But Psyche was always clear about marrying the man for whom she felt true love and no one else. But there was someone who wasn’t happy about Psyche.
When Goddess Aphrodite, the woman who was earlier recognized as the most beautiful woman, learned that there was another woman as beautiful as her, she sent her son, Eros, the God of Love to shoot Psyche with an arrow dipped in a magical potion that would distract men from her beauty. No man would be able to see her beauty or desire to marry her. Little did Aphrodite know that her jealousy would lead to the love story of Eros and Psyche.
It so happened that Eros himself falls in love with Psyche, shooting her with the wrong arrow first and then with the arrow that his mother demanded. The God of love couldn’t help be smitten by Psyche’s surreal beauty. Even so, he hides his feelings, knowing his mother would disapprove and it would all lead to tragedies that he didn’t want to welcome. Eros confessed his feelings before the Oracle of Apollo who promised to keep his secret safe with him who contributed to the love story of Eros and Psyche.
A lot of time passed and Psyche’s parents grew worried about her marriage. They visited Apollo to seek guidance on how Psyche could find her true love. In Eros’ benefit and under his command, Apollo informs Psyche’s parents that her husband was indeed an ugly beast and that he was her only suitor. He further informed them that she should climb atop a mountain to find him dressed in mourning clothes. Another condition to find her husband was also that she could never see him and that he would only visit her at night. This was Eros’ way of protecting his love’s identity and could hide from his mother.
The love story of Eros and Psyche was a different one, wherein Psyche could only feel her husband’s presence at night but could never see him. Nonetheless, she didn’t feel like her husband was a beast. Her presence was comfortable and his touch very tender. Even though she hoped to see her husband and spend time with him, she couldn’t. So, she seeks his permission to allow her sisters to visit her at the mountain top since she feels lonely all day waiting for her husband to return. Eros agreed, which probably was a regrettable mistake.
Psyche’s sisters feel jealous of everything she has. She’s beautiful, plus she has everything a woman needs, including an incredible lover. They try to create a rift in the secret love story of Eros and Psyche. They inform Psyche that they have seen the beast and that he is very ugly. Psyche is disturbed on hearing the news. They also tell her that the beast would definitely kill her one day, and so she should kill him before he does.
Scared of her life, Psyche follows them. In the middle of the night, she breaks her condition and takes the lamp closer to a sleeping Eros, who is awakened by her betrayal. Psyche finds a fine-looking man, and the God of Love looking back at her, feeling broken about his love’s action. Just then, a few drops of hot oil from the lamp fall on his face. Eros instantly flies out of the window, afraid of what would befall upon them, now that the love story of Eros and Psyche would no longer be a secret.
As he imaged, Aphrodite learns of this secret love and jails Eros to separate the two. But Psyche is filled with guilt and doesn’t want to lose her husband. She visits Aphrodite and begs her to let her see Eros. Aphrodite doesn’t agree at first but finally agrees to let the two see each other if Psyche fulfilled three tasks.
Psyche left no stone unturned to complete her tasks so she can complete the love story of Eros and Psyche. To their misfortune, Psyche dies with the risks of the third task. The news of Psyche’s death reaches Eros in the prison, who escapes from the shackles of Aphrodite’s commands to find Psyche.
He travels to Zeus and begs him to give Psyche back so the love story of Eros and Psyche could have a happy ending after all. Eros is left shattered and escapes the jail to beg Zeus to save his wife so they could spend their lives together. Witnessing the love of Eros and Psyche, Zeus agrees and turns Psyche into an immortal.
Pain, betrayal, and separation later, Cupid, aka, Eros and Psyche have a happy ending after all.
History records that when Cupid’s arrow strikes, people fall in love. But not many know much about the story of Eros and Psyche, the God of love himself. Among one of the most admired love stories from Greek Mythology, cupid’s story is one that relates with people the most considering the drama, pain, and love that envelops the two.
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