Eros
In Greek mythology and philosophy, Eros played many roles. In
the Theogony of Hesiod (c.750 BC), Eros impregnated Gaia (mother earth), and their offspring were
Ouranos (heaven), the sea, and
mountains. The Birds of Aristophanes contains another
theogony, in which Chaos and darkness first
existed. Then night laid an egg in darkness, and Eros was
hatched. Finally, Eros fertilized Chaos, who gave birth to ocean,
heaven, earth, and all the gods. Among some early Greek
philosophers, Eros was love, the force responsible for all
creation-if present-and for all destruction-if absent.
As a young, playful god, he was often referred to as a son of
Aphrodite and was frequently depicted as
causing love by shooting a gold-tipped arrow. Many of his
antics are related in the Aeneas of Vergil
and in the Metamorphoses of Ovid. In art, he is usually
depicted with wings, carrying a bow and wearing a quiver of
arrows. In Roman mythology he is known as Cupid or Amor.