Miscellaneous Myths: Eros and Psyche

Happy valentine's day, people! In celebration, let's take a look at a tale as old as time - Eros and Psyche!

This myth has been adapted in a million different ways, and the structure recurs in folklore all over the world - boy meets girl, boy loses girl, girl has to undergo X taxing trials to earn the hand of boy, girl gets boy. Oftentimes, the boy also transforms from a hideous or animalistic form into a beautiful one when the girl completes her tasks.

This could be considered a way of balancing or equalizing the marriage - it's not one-sided, because after the boy pursues and obtains the girl, the girl in turn pursues and obtains the boy.

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[themandownstairs]

moral of the story:
Don't be hot in ancient Greece

[burnblast]

Might I point out that (if Psyche hadn't screwed it up) Persephone just causally attempted to assassinate Aphrodite.

[caffeinatedbrw]

So...
Psyche did all four tasks, went to the underworld, and died _while pregnant?_
*Dang.*

[cylnder]

A Greek mythology that involves love that DOESN'T involve incest, leaving your potential lover behind, and/or PERMANENT DEATH? IMPOSSIBLE!

[burnerdaughter]

"Zeus if you make this work Aphrodite will be a *grandmother.*"

"Oh my me that's hilarious!"

[SchelmM]

Kinda ironic how the mythos of Eros aka sexual/romantiv love is one of the few myths in which Zeus could keep it in his pants.

[mafaldaviana]

My favourite part of the myth is when Psyche is trying to drown herself and some nymph goes up to her, says "Excuse me, get your depressed vibes out of my river" and decides to help.

[whatgsaid]

Eros: Wonder who the poor lady I have to compel to fall in love with a monster is
*sees Psyche*
Eros: *Oh no, she’s hot*

[carlocumino]

Only now I realize that Eros and Psyche is the first version of Beauty and the Beast.

[bluelfsuma]

I imagine Apollo foaming at the mouth at Eros' happily ever after.

[lilytherose]

A... a happy myth? With justice? And civil, good marriage? Is this legal?

[bobmcguffin]

“Why don’t you just kill her?”
It’s not about efficiency, it’s about sending a message. If she simply dies one day, people will still remember her as the most beautiful person/thing to have ever lived. Aphrodite needed to smear her name and preferably face through the mud while she lives. Ruin her image. Make no one remember her being hot

[sarahcole]

Fun fact: Psyche has butterfly wings after she gets ambrosia’d because the word “psyche” means both “soul” and “butterfly” in Greek, presumably depending on the context

[dillionbarton]

"Oh my god. It's just like high school."

True statement is true.

[roninelenion]

I love that Persephone intended to send Aphrodite a box of straight-up murder.

[tabithahood]

Wait- a happy ending? In GREEK MYTHOLOGY??? And to top it off, Zeus was involved and DIDN'T absolutely ruin everything? That's a miracle right there.

[whyamihere]

“Eros flies back to Aphrodite to nurse his minor burn” XD I swear, this is every child when they fall

[FrostSylph]

Wait what? A Greek myth where Zeus is helpful, the people who convince the protagonist to break their word are punished for it, the protagonist is forgiven for their mistakes, and it ends happily and is still an enjoyable story? WHAT!?

[darkhorsearmor]

You know someone is being pure evil in greek mythology when Zeus actually becomes helpful.

[edwardramos]

Hermes to a fuming Aphrodite on the wedding day: You know I haven't seen this much love in a room since Narcissus discovered himself.