The Birth of Venus and Cupid

VENUS AND ADONIS

One morning Venus floated ashore on a huge sea shell, having been formed deep in sea out of the sea foam. Her very name Aphrodite is the Greek word for “foam-risen”. She was received by the Hoors, gentle maidens who dressed her nakedness in the clothes such as are used by the immortals and brought her to the gods at Olympus. The birth of Venus took place in the sea near Cothera, but when she came ashore, it was on the Island of Cyprus. For this reason sometimes she is called Venus Cytherean and sometimes the Venus Cyperian.

When she was brought before the Olympian Gods, all the gods fell in love with her, but Zeus gave her to Vulcan. A son Cupid was born to her. He was blind. The bow and quiver of arrows which his mother gave him he used sometimes to good and sometimes to evil effect. Some of the arrows had tips of gold, and these, when they pierced a human breast, aroused sentiments of love and desire. There were other arrows which aroused the feeling of hate. One day, when Venus was playing with her prank-loving son, she accidentally pricked her own breast with one of the gold-tipped arrows. At that very moment she looked down on earth and saw young Adonis out for hunt. She fell in love with him. She came down from her Olympian palace, garbed herself in the manner of the divine Huntress, Diana, and joined Adonis in the hunt. When the moment came for rest and refreshment, she fed him mostly kisses, and entertained him with stories of love.

Time passed happily in this way. At last the goddess bade farewell to her beloved and in parting, warned him, “For my sake, be content to hunt the timid and less fierce creatures of the woods, and never a lion or a tigress or a wild boar!” Then, mounting her chariot, she took to the air, casting many a backward glance at her lover. No sooner was she gone than Adonis roused himself for the hunt, and ignoring her advice, he followed a wild boar. As soon as his hounds had cornered the beast, he let fly his spear, but succeeded only in wounding the animal. The enraged beast turned upon him, and in an instant killed him. The groans of the dying lad Adonis reached Venus. Quickly she returned to earth and was wild with grief to find a lifeless form which could respond no more to her warm kisses and embraces.

In order to commemorate him, she sprinkled his fresh blood on the soil and within an hour a bright red flower grew on the spot. This came to be called anemone, or wind flower, for its life is short and almost as soon as it reaches full growth, its petals are scattered over the earth.

VENUS AND MARS

Vulcan came to know that his wife Venus was deceiving him, and he decided to have his revenge. Apollo was the first to know of the secret meetings of Venus and Mars. This he reported to Vulcan. After he had recovered from the shock, the lame god made a net of bronze with links of such fineness that the mesh was invisible to the naked eye. It had all the softness of a spider’s web. This he spread over his own marriage couch, then hid himself nearby. When Venus and her lover had stretched themselves upon it, he drew it fast and held them thus imprisoned in close and shameful embrace. Then he threw wide the doors to the bedchamber and all the gods and goddesses were called in to see the spectacle.

ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE

Orpheus was born of the union of one of the Muses, Calliope, and a young prince of Thrace. The gift of enchanting music he had from his mother, and it is said that all who listened to were held spellbound by it. Not only gods and mortals, but the very rocks and streams were affected by his music.

Perhaps it was his music that first attracted the maiden Eurydice; perhaps it was the beauty of his person. They were married and Hymen, god of marriage, himself came to perform the ceremony, but his torch sputtered and smoked and would not catch fire. All knew that this was an ill-omen. Immediately after the wedding, Eurydice, while walking through the deep grass, was stung by a poisonous snake, and fell dead at the feet of her lover.

Orpheus mourned his bride and finally decided to go down to the underworld to bring her back. He reached Persephone and Plato, the rulers of the world of the dead. Then he took out his lyre, began to play a plaintive melody. He told them in song that he dared descend to the underworld only to see his wife, whose love he had enjoyed for so brief a span he begged that she be released and allowed to go with him to the world above. Eurydice was summoned and it was decided that she might return with her lover to the world above. But there was one condition: Orpheus must not look back during his journey from the nether world; if he did, he would lose his bride once again.

Slowly the couple began its journey through the realm of the dead. They had almost reached the outer world, when the anxious lover looked backwards and in that instant she was gone. Dying a second time, fair Eurydice made no complaint, for she knew that this misfortune came of the great love her husband had for her.

 ECHO AND NARCISSUS

Cephisus, the river god, violated the chastity of a nymph as she was bathing in his river. Of their love was born a child of extra ordinary beauty called Narcissus. By the time he was sixteen, such was his beauty that all loved him at first sight.

One day, as Narcissus was hunting in the forest, he was seen by the nymph Echo, who could not speak at any length, but had only the gift of repeating the last words she heard. She fell deeply in love with the lad at once, but could not speak of her love. Once when he called aloud to a friend who had strayed, “Will you come,” Echo answered, “Come!” He continued to call out, only to be astounded by the same strange reply. Finally, Echo came forth from behind a tree and sought to embrace Narcissus. But he fled from her embrace.

The nymph was cruelly hurt by this insult and henceforth sought the seclusion of desolate caves. Her love did not lessen and she wasted away with grief until nothing remained of her body. Only her plaintive voice continued to be heard in woodland and country-side. Narcissus rejected not only poor Echo, but all who sought his company and love. The goddess Nemesis (Fate) one day granted the prayer of one of his scorned lovers. “Let Narcissus love only himself and never find respite from his sorrow.”

And so it actually happened. One day the boy saw his own reflection in a pool of water. As he stretched himself at the stream’s edge to drink the clear water, he fell madly in love with the image that looked back at him, Pathetically enough, he admired and desired his very self. He tried in vain to kiss the reflection he saw. Neither eating nor sleeping, he suffered great anguish. He could not bring himself to leave the water’s edge and soon began to pray for relief in death. Slowly he pined away. Towards the end, he looked fondly at his reflection in the pool and weakly called, “Farewell!” Echo, ever loving and ever watchful, faintly answered, “Farewell!” And so died the fair Narcissus. Where he died at the quiet water’s edge, there grew a pale and lovely flower which to this day bears his name.

PERSEUS AND MEDUSA

Young Perseus, son of Danae, was washed ashore with his mother on a small island, where they were befriended by the fisherman Dictys. The beauty of Danae was such that the ruler of the island kingdom, at once fell in love with her. But for Perseus he had no love, and he thought of a cunning way to be rid of him.

One day he let it be known that he was to be married and ordered a huge celebration to which many were invited. Now it was the custom for all the guests to bring a costly gift. When it was the turn of Perseus to announce his offering, he stood silent, for he did not know of this custom and had come empty-handed. But he stood up proudly and said, “No gift do I bring, O King, but if there is aught on this earth that you desire that may be had through love or daring – that thing will I bring to you!”

The king smiled on the lad and said, “Bring to me, the head of Medusa!”

All the assembled guests were silent, for they knew now that the king wanted to kill Perseus. None had seen the face of Medusa and survived, for to look at her face was to be changed at once into stone. Perseus was being sent to his death. But Perseus at once agreed to go. He first went to a high cliff to be alone and gather his thoughts. As he stood, lost in darkest thought, he discovered that two figures were close by. He recognized them at once that the man with winged sandals was Hermes and the majestic woman was Athena. Then the goddess addressed him. “O foolish and brave Perseus! You were tricked into a rash promise by the king. But with our help, you will slay Medusa.”

Then Hermes said, “You may have my sandals and they will carry you with the wind’s speed to your destination. And my sword you may take to slay Medusa.” And Athena said, “Take my shield and when you encounter Medusa, gaze not upon her directly, but use this polished shield as a mirror to guide your death-giving stroke.”

First, with the aid of his borrowed sandals, Perseus flew northward where lived the three Gray Women. He was told by Athena that they will help him in his quest. These Women had but a single eye, which they shared amongst them. They passed it from one to the other and took their turns in viewing the bleak world in which they lived. Perseus approached quietly and just as the eye was being passed, he snatched it from the hands of one of the women. Now they were helpless. Perseus then told them of what he wanted and that they must direct him to the Garden of the Hesperides. Here there lived, as guardian of a tree on which golden apples grew, a band of nymphs, daughters of the giant Atlas. On his arrival he told them how he sought Medusa’s head. The nymphs, in love with him at first sight, gave to him the Cap of Darkness, a magic cap which rendered its wearer invisible. With this Cap, Perseus continued on his journey.

The winged sandals carried him towards his goal. He came finally to a dreary place where he saw forms in stone which once had been men and animals, and he knew that he was close to Medusa. Looking now only at the shield, he watched the passing reflections mirrored in it. and then, suddenly, he came upon the Gorgons. They lay asleep and even in slumber they were horrible to behold. Only the face of one of them was of great beauty and for this reason she was more dreadful to look upon. She had claws like those of a vulture and scales on her body like those of a sea-serpent. And in place of hair, there were vicious snakes which hissed and writhed.

The Perseus waited no longer. Looking only at the shield’s reflection, he took out his sword and struck with strength and skill. The head of Medusa rolled from its evil body and the hero wrapped it quickly in a goatskin he had brought with him and winged back.

When Perseus reached the king and announced that he had brought back the head of Medusa, the king did not believe him and called it all a lie. Then Perseus called out to his assembled friends, “Protect your eyes!” and uncovered the head and held it before him for the king to see. The king was at once turned to stone. Thus was justice done and Danae and her son avenged.

CUPID AND PSYCHE

Psyche was a maiden of extra-ordinary beauty; people came from distant places to see her and fell in love with her, and neglected the worship of Venus, the goddess of youth and beauty. At this, Venus was much displeased. She called to her side her prank-loving son Cupid and pointed out Psyche to him. “Go,” she said, “and pierce with your arrow the all too proud and lovely breast of that boastful girl. Make her fall in love with the most vile and miserable creature that you can find on the earth below.” But Cupid himself fell in love with her.

Men looked upon Psyche with longing and desire but her beauty was so awesome that none could express his love for her. While Psyche remained a virgin, her two sisters won lovers and husbands for themselves. So Psyche lamented her lonely life and came soon to despise her own beauty. Psyche’s father began to suspect that this was the work of some unfriendly god or goddess and went himself to consult the Oracle of Apollo. The words he heard were terrifying ones. Psyche was to be dressed in clothes of mourning, taken to a neighbouring mountain and left there for the approach of her lover and future husband. And he would be no fair youth of godlike splendour, but a dire and fierce winged serpent from the skies.

So Psyche was left alone on the mountain peak. But as she stood alone gentle Zephyrus, servant of Cupid, picked her up and carried her tenderly to a pleasant, scented valley far below. For a while she slept and then awakened refreshed. In the distance she saw a magnificent building and hastened towards it. It seemed built not by the hand of man but by some god. Cautiously, Psyche ventured into this building and saw that nobody lived in it. At night she went to bed with a beating heart. Then her lover, Cupid, came to her and remained with her, though invisible, all through the night. With the first dawn he was gone, leaving the new bride to wonder at her strange but not unhappy lot.

But after long days and nights had passed and Psyche had become accustomed to her life of luxury and love in he husband’s arms, she became bored and restless. One night she begged her husband that her sister be permitted to visit her. Reluctantly, Cupid consented but warned her not to tell them anything about him or the nature of their life together.

When the sisters were brought to the valley where Psyche was so richly housed, Psyche led them to her home. Soon they asked Psyche, what was her husband like? Remembering her promise, she spoke in vaguest terms and described him as a comely, beardless lad, who spent his days away from home hunting in the hills and fishing in the nearby streams. But the sisters soon frightened her by telling her of the oracle of Apollo and convinced her that, as had been prophesied, she was married to, not a young god, but a serpentine monster of horrible appearance. They suggested that she should arm herself with a sharp blade and a lantern and when her husband was sound asleep to see his face for herself. If he was indeed what they had said, she could cut off his head and free herself from this horrible bondage.

That very night she did as had been suggested to her by her sisters and when her husband was in a deep sleep, she took her oil lamp and had a look at him. What she saw was not a monster, but rather the most beautiful of young men. Frightened she fell to her knees seeking to hide her shameful act. Some drops of oil fell on Cupid’s shoulder and the pain awakened him. Without a word of farewell he disappeared, leaving the girl to mourn her misdeed and her sad fate.

In course of time. Venus came to know of the love of her son for Psyche, and inflicted terrible punishment upon her.

Psyche faced the wrath of Venus with great courage and fortitude and was in course of time raised to the status of a goddess, the youngest of all goddesses.

Keats’ Ode to Psyche is based on this myth of Psyche.