Eros

For other uses, see Eros (disambiguation).

a statue of Eros

Eros was the Greek god of love. He was the god of strong love and body love. He did not warn people. He picked someone and shot an arrow into their heart. Then that person felt strong love. They felt mixed up. They could not stop their feelings. A poet named Hesiod said Eros makes arms and legs feel weak. He also makes the mind feel weak.

Looks

In Greek art, Eros looked like a young, pretty boy. He had wings. He often had flowers on his head. He liked roses. Eros and Psyche are often shown together in old art from Greece and Rome.

Origin

In one old story by Hesiod, Eros was one of the very first gods. He came at the start of the world. He was there with Chaos and Gaia (Earth). In this story, Eros was a big love that helped make the world. In another story, called an Orphic story, Eros came from an egg. The Titan named Chronos (Time) put the egg inside Chaos. Eros came out of the egg. In this story, he was both male and female. A funny play writer named Aristophanes told a story too. He said Eros came from a silver egg. The egg was laid by Nyx (Night) and Aither (Wind). Some other stories say his mother was Eileithyia, or Penia (Poverty), or Iris (the rainbow messenger and West Wind).

Family

Most people said Eros helped Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. Many stories say Aphrodite was his mother. They say his father was Ares. His brothers were Deimos (Fear), Phobos (Panic), and Harmonia (Harmony). Some stories say he had a younger brother named Anteros. Anteros punished people when love was not returned.

Works

Eros was the god of birth, strong want, and body love. Sometimes he was playful and silly. Sometimes he was mean. He could make people fall in love in a wild way. People could not control it. They could feel confused and act without thinking. He was tricky. He did not always act in a steady way. This may be why he was not one of the 12 main gods of Olympus. People also believed Eros was the special god who protected love between men.

Arrows

Eros had arrows. He shot them at gods, heroes, and normal people. No one was safe. One time, the god Apollo made fun of Eros and his bow skills. Eros shot Apollo with an arrow. Apollo then fell in love with a nymph named Daphne. Another time, Eros made Medea fall in love with the hero Jason. Jason was the man who took the Golden Fleece. Eros also fell in love himself. He fell in love with Psyche. He married her, even though his mother Aphrodite did not want this.

Worship

People prayed to Eros in many places. In Thespiae, there was a big festival for him called the Erotidia. People had games and art shows there. People also worshiped him in Athens, Megara, Philadelphia, Leuctra, Velia, and Parium. Altars for Eros were in the Academy in Athens and in the gym at Elis. People in Greece believed love for male beauty was just as good as love for female beauty. A famous army group called the Sacred Band of Thebes was made of male pairs. They honored Eros. They gave gifts to him before battle.

Plato's sayings

A wise man named Plato spoke a lot about love. He said love is one of the oldest gods. He said love is very strong. He said love helps people become good and happy. He also said the word “hero” is close to the word “love.” Plato said when someone falls in love, it feels like magic. Beauty goes through the eyes into the soul. It makes the soul grow wings. The person who is loved feels love too. They may not understand it. They may think it is just friendship. But they want to see, touch, kiss, and lie close to the one they love. Plato also shared an old saying. People call him “Love.” But the gods call him “Shove,” because he pushes love into hearts.

Related pages

• Cupid, the version of Eros in Roman mythology
• 433 Eros