Latin Cupid

If you have ever wondered with regards to the meaning of a chubby little boy shooting people with arrows on Valentine’s Day, you are not alone. Divorced of any symbolism, Cupid seems an odd choice of mascot for this romantic day. Who is Cupid, and why has he become such a recognizable and indispensible symbol of romantic love?

In Latin, “Cupido” means “yearning, desire, longing, or passion.” Interestingly enough, in Latin, Cupid is known as “Amor,” which is, of course, the word for “love, infatuation, or passion.” That’s amore! The Greek version of Cupid is Eros, the god of passion or (erotic|sexual pleasure|sexually arousing love. Few ancient gods have had the staying power as Cupid; he is a popular portion of innovative culture, exceptionally on February 14. Today, Cupid is like the official spokesperson for Valentine’s Day. You’ll see his cherubic image, with an arrow at the ready. And when you are struck by Cupid’s arrow, it means love is in the air. We tend to forget that he carries two quivers.

In ancient tradition, Cupid could inspire love with his steady aim, but he could also inspire hate. That is the second quiver which we ignore on Valentine’s Day! The ancients regarded him as playful at times, mischievous at others, and a troublemaker most of the time, and according to galore myths, he was the son of Venus, the goddess of love, and Mars, the god of war. Today, we’ve cleaned him up so he is more suitable as the mercantile symbol of Valentine’s Day and he is portrayed as an adorable, sweet, innocent boy who brings persons together in love.

Today, Cupid is ofttimes seen as a chubby baby or child. He is ofttimes wearing a diaper and is now and again blindfolded to signify that love is blind. While Cupid is the most prominent symbol of Valentine’s Day, with the exception, perhaps, of the heart shape, he has not one thing to do with the origins of the day itself. To that we owe both ancient pagan traditions and an early Christian. Ancient Romans honored the goddess Juno with a fertility celebration, kept on February 15, the day before the feast of Lupercalia. This festival centered around a ritual similar to a “love lottery.” The maidens’ names were written and put into jars. In the evening, the entitled young men would draw a name from the jar. This maiden, then, was assigned to be his “partner and sexual companion” for the duration of the Lupercalia festival. This “assignment” many times ended in marriage.

What does this have to do with St. Valentine? Not much! During the 3rd Century AD, Valentine was a priest who helped young couples get married in spite of the decree of King Claudius. Valentine was arrested and martyred when he refused to convert to paganism. The date of his execution: February 14. It is likely that Valentine was tortured as a form of amusement for the duration of the Lupercalia festival to deter pagans from converting to Christianity.

During the next century, Christianity gained more widespread political following and pagan festivals were ofttimes given Christian meanings. The love lottery, for instance, was left in place – with one major modification. Instead of placing the maidens’ names in the jar, saint’s names were placed. The young men and women drew names and were to emulate that saint.

St. Valentine took the place of the god Lupercus in the mid-February festival when it was Christianized. And Cupid found his way into the celebration as well. The origins of Valentine’s Day are very twisted indeed.

Review”The translation again is in accurate, idiomatic English…but the fleshing out is left to the commentary, which is a superb help toward appreciating a rich and complex piece of artistry.” The Key Reporter

“The entire work exhibits the precision and thoroughness that we suppose in Kenney’s scholarship….Kenney’s Cupid and Psyche is a virtuosic performance and marks an auspicious beginning to the new Imperial Library from Cambridge University Press.” James R. Bradley, New England Classical Journal and NewsletterLanguage NotesText: English, Latin (translation)
Original Language: Latin

Latin Cupid Image

Latin Cupid Picture

Latin Cupid Image