February 2008

Cupid and Psyche
by Heather Maureen Millott

Often at Valentines Day we see visions of cupid, a cherub-like figure often depicted as a little naked boy or a diapered and winged child running around with his bow and arrow in hand. Who is Cupid and where does his story begin?

Cupid originated from old fairy tales, stemming from classical mythology. Although we think fondly of him at Valentine's as a childlike freedom of love, he also has a love story of his own. It is the one of Cupid and Psyche, and this is their story.

Once upon a time there was a king with three beautiful daughters. The youngest, Psyche, was by far the most beautiful. She was so beautiful that people began to neglect the worship of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. Venus was very jealous, and asked her son Cupid to make Psyche fall in love with a horrible monster. When he saw her, Cupid pricked himself, and fell in love with her. Because Psyche was mortal she was never to lay eyes on her Cupid. When night came, her new husband visited her, and told her that he would always visit by night and she must never try to see him.

Her sisters, seeing her happiness, became very jealous and persuaded Psyche to look upon Cupid. They had convinced her that he was a horrible monster and plotting to fatten her up in order to eat her.

Late one night, Psyche took a candle lamp and a knife determined to get a peek at her sleeping husband but when she saw beautiful Cupid, she was so surprised she dripped some hot wax onto his shoulder, waking him. Cupid was furious and immediately left her. Their lovely castle and gardens vanished too and Psyche found herself alone in an open field.

Psyche roamed helplessly around looking for her love, and came across the temple of Venus. Still angry, the goddess sent Psyche on various tasks to complete, each harder and more dangerous than the last. Venus gave her a little box and instructed her to take it to the underworld. There she was to steal some of the beauty of Proserpine, the wife of Pluto and contain it in the box. She was told to avoid dangers of the realm of the dead, and was warned under no circumstances not to open the box. Temptation overcame Psyche and she opened the box anyway. Instead of finding beauty, she found deadly slumber.

Cupid, now aware of what was happening, found Psyche's lifeless body on the ground. He gathered the sleep from her body and put it back in the box. Cupid forgave her. The gods, moved by Psyche's love for Cupid, made her a goddess. They then lived happily ever after, now that Cupid's true love was immortal like him.

Till next time,
Heather

About the Author:
Heather Millott is a Halloween artist who admits to being shamelessly addicted to primitive folk and vintage Halloween art. Each month she plans to bring us another "Curious Good.." column. If you have a story suggestion for her, feel free to email her. Visit Heather here on HalloweenArtists.com or on her website at www.witchhollowprimitives.com.