A GUIDE TO VALENTINE’S DAY THE TALE OF CUPID BY TRESA ERICKSON The approach of Valentine’s Day brings many images to mind—red and pink balloons, lacy cards, candy hearts, boxed chocolates, fuzzy teddy bears, long-stemmed roses, diamond pendants and candlelit dinners. No Valentine’s Day would be complete, however, without mention of the god Cupid. Legend has it that anyone struck by one of the god’s arrows would fall madly in love with another. Cupid, of course, is a mythological fi gure. In Greek mythology, he goes by the name of Cupid and is the son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. In Roman mythology, he goes by the name of Eros and is the son of Venus, the goddess of love. Aphrodite, or Venus if you prefer, is a stunningly beautiful, wildly passionate, possessive goddess who guards her relationship with her children carefully. As the story goes, all is well with Cupid and his mother until he falls in love with a beautiful maiden named Psyche. Psyche rivals Aphrodite in beauty. People are naturally drawn to her and begin worshipping her more than they do Aphrodite. This infuriates the goddess, and she orders her son Cupid to make Psyche fall in love with a monster of her choosing. Cupid agrees, but as he is about to pierce the maiden with his arrow, she awakens and startles him, causing him to prick himself instead. Cupid fl ies off, madly in love with Psyche. Upon learning what has happened, Aphrodite curses Psyche to live the rest of her days alone. Now in love with the maiden, Cupid is angered by his mother’s actions and retaliates by vowing not to shoot any more arrows. Love stops, the renewal of life ends, and Aphrodite’s temple is deserted. Aphrodite becomes concerned and strikes a deal with Cupid. She will permit him to marry Psyche if he resumes his work. Cupid agrees. Meanwhile back on earth, Psyche’s parents become worried when no suitors come calling. They consult an oracle, fi nd out what Aphrodite has done and attempt to appease the goddess with the sacrifi ce of their young daughter. Cupid rescues Psyche and asks her to marry him—on one condition— that she not see him until the time is right. Psyche agrees to Cupid’s stipulation and only has contact with him at night in total darkness. Psyche enjoys living in the lap of luxury in Cupid’s castle but soon grows homesick. Cupid arranges for her sisters to visit. Upon seeing how well Psyche is living, the sisters become jealous and convince Psyche that her husband must be some sort of monster, just waiting to fatten her up before he kills her and her unborn child. They encourage Psyche to kill her husband before he kills her. Psyche doesn’t want to believe her sisters, but one night, curiosity gets the best of her and she lights a candle. Psyche is stunned at what she sees. Instead of a horrifi c monster, she fi nds an exquisite god. Psyche falls madly in love with Cupid and begins to kiss him when a bit of the candle wax drips onto the god’s shoulder. Cupid awakes with a start, sees what has happened and leaves in anger. Psyche searches for Cupid for days to no avail. She pleads for the goddesses to help her, but they all send her to Aphrodite. Reluctantly, she goes to the goddess’ temple and asks for her help. Aphrodite agrees to help, but fi rst Psyche must complete a series of tasks, each one harder than the last. Psyche succeeds with assistance from others and is given one fi nal task, to take a box to Hades and capture some of Persephone’s beauty. Before she leaves on her quest, Aphrodite warns Psyche not to open the box. Psyche completes the task, but once again, curiosity gets the best of her and she opens the box. What she fi nds inside is not beauty but eternal slumber, which overcomes her. No longer angry, Cupid comes to the aid of Psyche again. This time, however, he consults the gods for help. They revive Psyche and make her a goddess. She reconciles with Aphrodite and gives birth to a daughter named Pleasure. There are many variations to this story, of course. All, however, tell a story of love. How befi tting for a god who brings people together to fall in love himself.
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