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Greek Mythology > Immortals >
Eros
In Theogony (line 116), Eros is listed as one of the primal gods of the generation after Khaos (Chaos), the originator. He is the most handsome of the immortals and can break the will of the wisest god or the strongest mortal when scratched by one of his arrows.
With arrows of gold and lead, he would wound the hearts of mortals and Olympians alike. The golden arrows inspired love and the lead arrows caused distaste. In Theogony (line 120), it’s said emphatically that ‘Eros is love’. The negative aspect, with the lead arrows, was added at a later date.
The Trojan War began when Helen, the daughter of Zeus, was smitten by Eros’ arrow. In the blind madness of love, she abandoned her husband, took her bridal dowry and sailed off to Troy with her lover, Alexandros (Paris). I assume that Eros’s enchantment can wear off because after the sack of Troy we find Helen at home with her rightful husband Menelaos, very much in love. She blamed her folly on Zeus, who, we can assume, now commands Eros.
Eros is most often confused with the Roman god, Cupid.
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| Stewart, Michael. "Eros", Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant. http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/bios/eros.html (November 15, 2005) |
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