The Myth of Eros and Psyche
By Cara
The Mythology
Like most myths, there are numerous variations of Eros and Psyche’s tale. Psyche was a beautiful mortal princess, so beautiful, in fact that people started to worship her and her beauty, neglecting Aphrodite and her temples. Jealous and distraught, Aphrodite orders her son, Eros, to make Psyche fall in love with the most hideous man.
However, Eros fell in love with Psyche instead, and he whisked her away to his palace. When Psyche’s sisters visited, they were jealous of their youngest sister, and they deceived her into thinking that she was married to a monster. In a version of the myth, Eros had forbade Psyche into gazing upon his face and Psyche was tricked by her sisters into doing so. In other versions, Psyche was urged by her sisters to kill the god in his sleep with a dagger.
Though versions of the myth vary depending on the classical text, the tale centered around similar themes: betrayal, punishment, heartache, hope, and love. Eros left, and a desolate Psyche wandered around the earth, searching for her him. It is in her journey that she found the goddess Aphrodite herself, and the goddess gave her three difficult tasks that she must perform in order to reunite with Eros once again. One of these tasks involved venturing in the Underworld and its Queen, Persephone.
Psyche et L'Amour (1889) by BouguereauEros & Psyche in Lore Olympus
Smythe’s adaptation of the myth shared similarities with the classical myth, especially the beginnings of the tale.
Photo by Webtoons
APHRODITE AND THE MORTALS
In Episode 14, we saw a glimpse of a flashback behind Eros’s heartache. His mother, Aphrodite, was upset because mortals were claiming that there’s a woman more beautiful than her. Eros asked for a name, to which Aphrodite replied, “Psyche.”
Similar to the classical myth, Aphrodite enlisted her son to make the mortal fall in love with the ugliest creature he can find. Upon landing in the Mortal Realm, Eros found a piglet which he deemed enough for his unpleasant task. But as soon as Eros’s eyes found the mortal, he fell in love, and he was displeased upon seeing how Psyche’s own mother treated her. He couldn’t bear doing what his mother had asked of him, and hesitated shooting Psyche with his arrow as she knelt down and cried.
A GLIMPSE OF THEIR FATE: Eros found Psyche sitting in front of a tapestry of him
Photo from Webtoons
Photo by Webtoons
EROS TAKES PSYCHE
Psyche was arranged to be wed with the richest merchant, to her dismay. Her sisters expressed their jealousy and stated that she had always been their father’s favorite.
Suddenly, darkness filled the room, and a winged creature flew in, taking Psyche. When asked who he was, he declared for all the mortals to hear that he was “the ugliest creature” they’ve seen.
LIFE IN OLYMPUS
They lived together in an apartment in Olympus. Psyche asked Eros if she could go outside, but Eros was afraid of what his mother might do if she discovered Psyche. So instead, Psyche asked if she could have visitors. Eros agreed, even though he had a horrible feeling about it.
PSYCHE’S SISTERS
Psyche’s sisters visited the apartment, and it was immediately evident how they resented their sister’s good fortune compared to theirs. They raised questions about Psyche’s situation with her “mystery man”, and called her gullible, stupid, and a fool. They gave her a dagger, urging her to use it upon Eros.
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THE BETRAYAL
Psyche made her move in the night and tried to use the dagger, hesitating. However, she was met with a shocking sight: the god of love. She stumbled backwards, waking him up.
When Eros woke up, his eyes found the dagger in Psyche’s hands. He realized what she was meaning to do, and before Psyche could explain and apologize, Eros left the apartment, distraught and heartbroken.
EROS’ ACT OF WRATH
His heartache led to committing an Act of Wrath without a permit. Because of this, he and Aphrodite were summoned in Zeus’ office, where Aphrodite found out that not only was Eros in trouble for killing mortals, but that he was found to be harboring a mortal.
Photo from Webtoons
APHRODITE AND PSYCHE
Unlike in the classical texts wherein Psyche found Aphrodite, it was Aphrodite who found the mortal, still in the apartment when she came to collect her son’s things. Psyche implored her case to the goddess.
THE TEST AND PUNISHMENT
Instead of punishing and testing Psyche like in the myths, Aphrodite decided to do an experiment and test her son instead. She disguised Psyche as a nymph with the name “Ampelus”, and she’s often seen with Eros and Aphrodite.
THE TASKS
There were numerous implications that Eros was being assigned numerous tasks by Aphrodite. One of these is getting a drunken Persephone in the back of Hades’s car, a task that Eros deeply regretted and made up for.
In Episode 146, it was implied that Ampelus accompanies and helps Eros perform the tasks Aphrodite asks of Eros.
Photo from Webtoons
What Could Happen?
EROS AND AMPELUS
Eros and Ampelus are implied to be in each other’s company more often. He taught Ampelus how to wield a bow and arrow, perhaps an indication of her future with him. He also playfully brushed the ends of his favorite arrow — true love — along her cheek, possibly symbolizing Psyche’s true love.
EROS NEEDS TO FIGURE IT OUT
In Episode 99, it seemed that Eros is still blissfully unaware of Ampelus’ true identity.
When Ampelus slipped about her history with arranged marriages in order to comfort Persephone, Eros still failed to associate this with Psyche.
Eros confided in Ampelus about not wanting to betray Persephone’s trust, an indication that they have gotten closer.
Possible Involvement from Persephone and Hades?
The Underworld and Persephone were closely intertwined with the tale of Eros and Psyche, and there is no doubt that this would also reflect in the storyline of Lore Olympus. Eros is Persephone’s best friend, and Persephone had met Ampelus. But Hades was one of the first beings to recognize Psyche as who she truly was, and we think that there is also a possibility wherein Hades would be involved in how Rachel would reinterpret the myths. Hades not only recognized Psyche, but also gave the mortal hope when she confided in him that she thinks Eros would never be able to figure it out.
UPDATE: AUG 28 2021
THE REVEAL
It finally happened! In a rather surprising turn of events in Run For Your Life (Part V), Ampelus’ true form is revealed by an arrow of hate, and Eros is finally reunited with his love.
Their reunion was briefly cut short, however, as Psyche frantically tells Eros that she shot Apollo with an arrow of hate and that a nymph saw him. Last we saw was Eros and Psyche flying after Apollo and Daphne.
What happens now?
In the myths, Psyche had to go to the Underworld and get some of Persephone’s beauty. There is a possibility that Eros and Psyche’s woes are far from over, as Persephone still has to go through her trial with Zeus. Moreover, Psyche’s reveal might put Aphrodite in trouble, as harboring a mortal in Olympus is a crime. Considering Zeus’ frustration, we think that this is something he also won’t take lightly.
Sources: Psyche - THEOI
Lore Olympus is by Rachel Smythe
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