Cupid, the winged god of love and desire, is a classic symbol for Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for your loved one or just want to celebrate the holiday with your own cupid-inspired jewelry, there are plenty of options out there!
He is often portrayed as the son of the goddess Venus and the god Mars. He is also a god of attraction and affection, and his arrows can be seen flying across the landscape in various erotic scenes from mythology.
The story of Cupid and Psyche is the most widely known of the many tales about him in Greek mythology. The two eventually married on Olympus, where they had a child and became immortal.
In his role as a god, Eros was viewed by some ancients as the primordial force that preceded all other gods. He is said to have brought harmony to chaos, permitting life to develop.
But he also wreaked havoc on his enemies by shooting them with arrows that were made from gold or lead and designed to inspire love or hatred. That’s why his name is a play on the word for love in Greek.
According to The New Larousse Encyclopedia of Classical Antiquities, he is described as “a primitive deity” and had little resemblance to the “Cupid” who appeared in later literature.
Hesiod’s Theogeny, a collection of ancient Greek poems about the gods, first mentions Eros as a primordial force who was responsible for “bringing order out of disorder.”
His role as a god was eventually replaced by that of a winged child-god whose arrows could inspire love or hatred, a concept that remained popular throughout the Roman Empire and beyond. By the 15th century, Cupid was a familiar motif in classical art and had become the symbol for passionate love.
Using a metal detector, amateur treasure hunters have discovered a rare onyx and gold ring that depicts the love god cupid ring. It’s been reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), an organization that encourages people to report buried artifacts to authorities.
The ring, which dates from around the fourth century AD, shows Cupid resting one arm on a column while holding a torch with the other. Researchers said it was likely a relic of the Roman period, when the Romans controlled England.
It is a stunning piece of Roman art that will be displayed in an English museum.
A metal detectorist found the ring in a field near Hampshire in the United Kingdom. The ring is a remarkable example of ancient Roman gold that was used as jewelry.
In the UK, people are allowed to use metal detectors in areas deemed to be archeologically important. They must first get permission from the landowner, and they must also avoid archaeological sites that have been granted protection by the government.
The ring was found by a man who used a metal detector in December 2013. It is the first time that an ancient Roman ring of this type has been discovered. It was reported to the PAS by the metal detectorist, and it is being analyzed by experts.