Also called Amor, Cupido.
Their story
Cupid was the Roman form of the Greek Eros, son of Venus, whose arrows could cause love or aversion in gods and mortals alike. The best known Roman story is Apuleius's tale of Cupid and Psyche, in which Psyche loses her unseen husband by looking at him and wins him back through trials set by Venus. Ovid shows him as a mischievous boy who strikes Apollo with love for Daphne. He had little formal public cult, but appears everywhere in Roman art.
Their day
Friday. In modern practice, Friday, the day of his mother Venus.
Best times to give to them
- Veneralia, 1 April
- Vinalia, 23 April
- In modern practice, 14 February
What they like being given
- Roses
- Sweets or honey
- Rose incense
- A written love poem
How to honour them
- Write out what you truly desire before asking for it.
- Offer a rose and a sweet on Friday.
- Ask for honest love, not the bending of another's will.
How they can help you
- Opening to love
- Rekindling affection
- Self-love
Symbols
- bow and arrows
- wings
- torch
- butterfly
He was more a figure of poetry and art than of temple worship.
Sources
- Apuleius, Metamorphoses 4-6
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 1
- Virgil, Aeneid 1
More Roman gods
- Jupiter Best and greatest, guardian of Rome
- Mars Father of Rome and guardian of fields
- Mercury Patron of merchants, messages and journeys
- Janus Two-faced god of doors and beginnings
- Saturn King of the golden age and lord of the harvest
- Sol Invictus The unconquered sun, reborn at midwinter
- Neptune Lord of fresh water and the sea
- Vulcan God of fire, both destroying and forging