Cupid and Psyche

It's February, a month often associated with love, and in MythicMondays, I mentioned the story of Cupid's most famous love affair.

​Psyche was a mortal who was so beautiful, people started worshiping her as a goddess of love. Jealous, Venus sent her son Cupid to force her to fall in love with a monster. Cupid accidentally scratched his leg with his arrow, falling in love with Psyche himself.

Psyche's father consulted an oracle, and decided to sacrifice her, to avoid the wrath of Venus. Cupid convinced the west wind, Zephyr, to abduct Psyche for him, saving her from being sacrificed. She awoke in a magnificent palace. Every night Cupid visited her, but remained hidden in shadow and darkness, since he wanted her to love him for himself and not because he's a god.

Psyche fell in love with Cupid, but she became terribly homesick. Unable to refuse her anything, Cupid granted her a visit with her sisters. Zephyr brought Psyche's evil sisters to the palace. Jealous of her opulent life, they convinced her she's been loving a monster. Under their advisement Psyche used a lamp to illuminate Cupid while he slept and find out the truth of her sisters words. She startles him awake. Angry that she didn't trust him, he cast her out of the palace and returned to Olympus. 

​Psyche wandered the world, suffering from love sickness. She went to Venus and begged her to intervene and convince Cupid to return to her. Venus doesn't believe that Psyche is good enough for her son, so she sends her to complete impossible tasks to earn her blessing. Psyche meets every challenge, determined to win back Cupids love.

Cupid, upon watching his loved one struggle to win back his love, saves her from the disastrous last task in the underworld that nearly takes her soul. He begs Jupiter, King of the Gods, for help. Jupiter grants Psyche immortality, and a great wedding for Psyche and Cupid is held in the heavens, with all gods present. Their love became a symbol for the first "soulmates" for artists and writers for the rest of time. ​

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Cupid and Psyche, by Bouguereau

Wedding of Cupid of Psyche, by Raphael