Ah, Valentine’s day: one Hallmark escape off greeting cards and you may delicious chocolate, their bloody roots nearly entirely destroyed over the past dos,one hundred thousand ages!

What began as an effective Christian banquet date celebrating 2 or 3 early Religious martyrs – the initial “Valentines” – is becoming on the flocks regarding winged cherubic Cupids, whose innocuous-appearing bows and you will arrows represent smooth love instead of demise-coping conflict. In some way, the phrase “hit from the Cupid’s arrow” is meant to getting fun instead of excruciating.

The guy himself try good Roman deity from the crave and you may love, according to the Greek Eros. When you look at the Greece and you can Rome, one another data was in fact portrayed because good looking teenage boys, a lot less winged children.

However, ancient poets and you will musicians and artists in addition to thought an effective troop out-of “Erotes” or “Cupidines” once the attendants of those gods. Brand new Romans illustrated him or her since the winged kids, otherwise “putti,” while they turned into understood when you look at the Italian Renaissance art. These, consequently, became this new chubby cherubs from the current valentines.

Even with picturing brand new jesus that have an excellent troop away from adorable attendants, possibly the Romans know you to Cupid had a deep, more threatening front side – you to whoever power you would not have to disregard.

Quick however, great

New archer goodness Apollo discovered that it from the hard ways, given that poet Ovid told in the impressive of A good.D. 8, “Metamorphoses.” That have only murdered brand new dragon of Delphi having step 1,000 arrows, Apollo provoked this new strong frustration from Venus’ man because of the mocking Cupid’s relatively toylike guns. (more…)