The myth of Cupid and Psyche - Brendan Pelsue

Summary

Psyche, celebrated for her unmatched beauty, is abandoned by her father on a cliff to marry a feared serpent. Instead, Zephyr carries her to a palace where she meets her unseen husband, Cupid. Discovering his identity, Psyche is devastated when he flees. To reunite with him, she completes impossible tasks set by Venus with help from divine sources. Finally, Cupid acknowledges their equal love, making Psyche immortal. They have a daughter, Pleasure, and continue to influence love. This tale explores themes of beauty, love, and resilience.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Psyche's beauty was so perfect that she was worshipped as an incarnation of Venus, causing her to be avoided by human lovers.
• 🗻 Psyche's father abandoned her on a cliff as per the Oracle of Apollo's guidance, believing she would marry a serpent-like creature.
• 🍃 Zephyr, the West Wind, rescued Psyche and brought her to a palace where she was told her husband awaited.
• 🌙 Psyche's husband visited her in the dark and was gentle and kind, but his identity was a mystery he refused to reveal.
• 🤰 Psyche became pregnant, adding to her confusion about how to raise a child without knowing her husband's true identity.
• 🔥 Psyche discovered her husband was Cupid when she accidentally burned him with a lamp, revealing his true form.
• 💔 Cupid believed gods and humans couldn't love equally and left Psyche, leaving her in despair.
• 🛤️ Encouraged by an unseen voice, Psyche embarked on a quest to find Cupid and prove their love could be equal.
• 📦 Venus set Psyche a series of impossible tasks as a condition for her to marry Cupid, including sorting seeds and retrieving items from dangerous places.
• 🐜 With the help of an ant colony and a river god, Psyche successfully completed the tasks set by Venus.
• 💤 Psyche fell into a deep sleep after opening a box from the Underworld, which was supposed to contain Proserpina's beauty.
• 💘 Cupid returned to Psyche, realized his love for her was true, and made her immortal with ambrosia.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Psyche and Cupid had a daughter named Pleasure, symbolizing the complex nature of love and soul.

Q & A

Why was Psyche considered cursed by beauty?

Psyche was cursed by beauty because her physical perfection was so complete that she was worshipped as a new incarnation of Venus, which intimidated real-life human lovers and prevented them from approaching her.

What did Psyche's father do when seeking guidance from the Oracle of Apollo?

Psyche's father abandoned her on a rocky crag as instructed by the Oracle of Apollo, where she was told she would marry a cruel and savage serpent-like winged evil.

How did Psyche get to the palace?

Zephyr, the West Wind, gently lifted Psyche into the air and set her down before the palace, indicating that she was home.

What was unusual about Psyche's husband in the palace?

Psyche's husband was unusual because he did not feel serpent-like as she was led to believe. Instead, he had soft skin, a gentle voice, and manner.

Why did Psyche's husband refuse to reveal his identity?

Psyche's husband believed that if she truly loved him, she would not need to know his identity, thus he refused to answer her question about who he was.

How did Psyche discover her husband's true identity?

Psyche discovered her husband was Cupid when she approached him with an oil lamp while he was sleeping, accidentally burning him with hot oil.

What was Cupid's initial reason for using his arrow on Psyche?

Cupid initially used his arrow on Psyche to embarrass her, as his jealous mother Venus had asked him to do so. However, he ended up falling in love with Psyche and used the arrow on himself instead.

Why did Cupid believe that gods and humans could not love as equals?

Cupid believed that gods and humans could not love as equals due to the divine and mortal divide, and this belief led him to flee after Psyche discovered his true form.

What tasks did Venus set for Psyche to complete in order to marry Cupid?

Venus set Psyche a series of impossible tasks: sorting a huge pile of seeds in a single night, bringing the fleece of the golden sheep, and traveling to the Underworld to get a drop of Proserpina's beauty.

How did Psyche manage to complete the task of sorting the seeds?

Psyche managed to complete the task of sorting the seeds with the help of an ant colony, which took pity on her and assisted with the work.

What was the significance of the box Psyche received from Proserpina?

The box Psyche received from Proserpina was supposed to contain a drop of beauty, but when Psyche opened it, hoping to keep some for herself, she found it filled with sleep instead, causing her to collapse.

How did Psyche become immortal and reconcile with Cupid?

Cupid reconciled with Psyche after realizing her fearlessness in the face of the unknown proved her worthiness. He gave her ambrosia, the nectar of the gods, which made her immortal.

What is the name of Psyche and Cupid's daughter, and what does it symbolize?

Psyche and Cupid's daughter is named Pleasure, symbolizing the joy and fulfillment that can come from overcoming the trials and tribulations of love.