Roman god
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External Websites
- BrandeisNOW - What the mythical Cupid can teach us about the meaning of love and desire
- Greek Gods and Goddesses - Cupid
- UNRV Roman History - Cupid
- Learn Religion - The Differences Between Cherubs, Cupids, and Other Angels in Art
- Ancient Origins - Cupid and Psyche: True Love Conquers All
- Mythology.net - Cupid
- University of Pittsburgh - Cupid and Psyche
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While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
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Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
External Websites
- BrandeisNOW - What the mythical Cupid can teach us about the meaning of love and desire
- Greek Gods and Goddesses - Cupid
- UNRV Roman History - Cupid
- Learn Religion - The Differences Between Cherubs, Cupids, and Other Angels in Art
- Ancient Origins - Cupid and Psyche: True Love Conquers All
- Mythology.net - Cupid
- University of Pittsburgh - Cupid and Psyche
Also known as: Amor
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated: •Article History
Cupid, ancient Roman god of love in all its varieties, the counterpart of the Greek god Eros and the equivalent of Amor in Latin poetry. 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. He was sometimes portrayed wearing armour like that of Mars, the god of war, perhaps to suggest ironic parallels between warfare and romance or to symbolize the invincibility of love.
Although some literature portrayed Cupid as callous and careless, he was generally viewed as beneficent, on account of the happiness he imparted to couples both mortal and immortal. At the worst he was considered mischievous in his matchmaking, this mischief often directed by his mother, Venus. In one tale, her machinations backfired when she used Cupid in revenge on the mortal Psyche, only to have Cupid fall in love and succeed in making Psyche his immortal wife.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Meg Matthias.