Cupid: the symbol of Valentine's Day - Entrenosotros | Consum (2024)

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Cupid: the symbol of Valentine's Day - Entrenosotros | Consum? ›

Cupid is considered to be the god of romantic desire. The equivalent of Cupid in Greek mythology was Eros. In Greek etymology, Cupid means desires, cravings or passion. According to legend, Cupid had two kinds of arrows: one grants love and the other forgetfulness.

As well as the classic red heart, and red roses, Cupid is an endearing symbol of Valentine's Day. In mythology, Cupid is the god of desire, love and affection. He was considered to be the son of the goddess Venus and Mars, the god of war. He is often portrayed as a naked winged youth with a bow and arrow.

Eros, too, is depicted as a winged creature in Greek mythology. “It was probably ideas about love being fleeting or capricious that are behind the representation of Eros with wings, which [goes] back to ancient times,” says Connors. Today's Valentine Cupid is a nod to both classical gods and Eros's lover, Psyche.

Cupid is the Roman god of love whose Greek name is Eros. He has a bow and arrow, and his arrows make people fall in love. He is the son of Venus.

So when exchanging cards become a popular Valentine's tradition in the 18th and 19th centuries, Cupid naturally got involved. The love god appeared on Valentines connected to expressions of affection, and when Hallmark began mass-producing cards for the holiday in 1913, he became even more ubiquitous.

Valentine's Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. In the 19th century, handmade cards gave way to mass-produced greetings.

Cupid, and his bow and arrow

A hopeful and sometimes mischievous matchmaker, Cupid shoots his arrow at the intended couple; the pierce rouses love and passion between the pair, leading to a lifelong relationship. So, when people are said to have been “shot by Cupid's arrow,” it means they have fallen in love.

What began as a Christian feast day honoring two or three early Christian martyrs – the original “Valentines” – is now associated with flocks of winged cherubic Cupids, whose innocuous-looking bows and arrows symbolize gentle romance instead of death-dealing war.

Valentine's Day was already becoming popular in the 18th century, and by the turn of the 19th century, Cupid had become linked to the holiday for his love-creating abilities.

Somehow Cupid was believed to be involved. According to Roman mythology, Cupid was the “god of love” and the son of Venus, the supposed “goddess of love.” It was thought that a shot from one of Cupid's arrows made a person fall in love!

What does Cupid represent? ›

In classical mythology, Cupid /ˈkjuːpɪd/ (Latin: Cupīdō [kʊˈpiːdoː], meaning "passionate desire") is the god of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection.

According to myth, Cupid was the son of Mercury, the winged messenger of the gods, and Venus, the goddess of love. He often appeared as a winged infant carrying a bow and a quiver of arrows whose wounds inspired love or passion in his every victim.

Saint Valentine was discovered and imprisoned in a torture-ridden Roman jail, where he fell in love with a mysterious girl (believed to be his prosecutor's daughter). He sent her a love letter signed 'from your Valentine' right before his execution, thus originating the romantic sign-off still widely used today.

Cupid If Valentine's Day has a mascot, it's the winged, bow and arrow--wielding baby known as Cupid. Next to the heart, he's the most common symbol of the holiday. His path from powerful Greek God to lovable cherub was not always an obvious one, though.

In early literature and art, Eros was depicted as the mischievous but fiercely loyal child of Aphrodite. One of his most recognizable symbols is a bow and arrow, which he can be seen wielding in many early paintings.

One Valentine was a priest in third-century Rome who defied Emperor Claudius II after the ruler outlawed marriage for young men. St. Valentine would perform marriages in secret for young lovers, ultimately leading to his death.

The name Cupid comes from the Latin meaning ``desire''. However, instead of Venus' romantic love, Cupid is associated with passion and lust. Cupid is the Roman interpretation of Grecian Eros, whose name inspired the word ``erotic'', denoting sexual passion and excitement.

Cupid [singular] : the god of sexual love in ancient Rome.

Somehow Cupid was believed to be involved. According to Roman mythology, Cupid was the “god of love” and the son of Venus, the supposed “goddess of love.” It was thought that a shot from one of Cupid's arrows made a person fall in love!

Cupid's arrow in British English

(ˈkjuːpɪdz ˈærəʊ ) noun. one of the arrows that Cupid is supposed to fire from his bow, which cause the person struck to fall in love.