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.