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Erotes

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Anteros by Alfred Gilbert, 1885; from the Shaftesbury Memorial in Piccadilly Circus.

The Erotes are a group of winged gods and demi-gods from Classical mythology, associated with love and sex and part of Aphrodite's retinue. The individual Erotes are sometimes linked to particular aspects of love, such as unrequited love. In some traditions, Erotes have an especial influence over homoerotic love.

Stories of the Erotes' mischief or pranks were a popular theme in Hellenistic culture, and they are common motifs in classical art, often merely as symbols of love. Other depictions include individual Erotes as characters, particularly the offspring of Ares and Aphrodite: Eros, Anteros, Himeros, and Pothos.

General role and attributes

The Erotes are a group of winged gods from Classical mythology. They are associated with love and sexual desire, and part of Aphrodite's retinue. The individual Erotes are sometimes linked to particular aspects of love, and are often associated with same-sex desire.[1][2][3][4] Sometimes the Erotes are regarded as being manifestations a singular god, Eros.[5]

Stories of the Erotes' mischief or pranks were a popular theme in Hellenistic culture, particularly in the 2nd century BCE.[6] Spells to attract or repel Erotes were used, in order to induce love or the opposite.[7] Different Erotes represented various facets of love or desire, such as unrequited love (Himeros), mutual love (Anteros) or longing (Pothos).[2] In the Greek tradition of pederasty, Eros represented the pursuit, while Anteros represented the flight of the adolescent (eromenos).[8]

The erotes were usually portrayed as nude, handsome, winged youths.[2] The earliest known sculptured friezees, from the 2nd century BCE,used to decorate theatres in ancient Greece, depict a group of Erotes and winged maidens driving chariots pulled by goats.[9] Erotes representation in such friezes was common, including in hunting scenes.[10] Due to their role in the classical mythological pantheon, representation may be purely symbolic (indicating some form of love) or they may be present as characters in their own rights.[11] The presence of Erotes in otherwise non-sexual images, such as of two women, has been interpreted to indicate a homoerotic subtext.[11] In the cult of Aphrodite in Anatolia, iconographic images of the goddess with three Erotes symbolized the three realms she had dominion over: the Earth, sky, and water.[12]

Members

Groups of numerous Erotes are portrayed in ancient Greek and Roman art. In addition, a number of named Gods have been regarded as Erotes, sometimes being assigned particular associations with aspects of love.

Eros

Eros. Attic red-figure bobbin, ca. 470 BC–450 BC.

Originally, Eros was the primordial god of lust, beauty, love, and intercourse; he was also worshipped as a fertility deity. His Roman counterpart was Cupid, "desire", also known as Amor, "love". In later myths, he was the son of the deities Aphrodite and Ares: It is the Eros of these later myths who is one of the Erotes. Eros was associtated with athleticism, with statues erected in gymnasia,[3] and "was often regarded as the protector of homosexual love between men and youths".[3] Eros often carried a lyre or bow and arrow, and is further depicted with dolphins, flutes, roosters, roses, and torches.[3]

Pothos

Statue of Pothos at the Musei Capitolini

Pothos was one of Aphrodite's Erotes and brother to Himeros and Eros. In some versions of myth, Pothos is instead the son of Eros, or an independent aspect of him.[2] He was part of Aphrodite's retinue, and carried a vine, indicating a connection to wine or the god Dionysus. Pothos represents longing or yearning.[13]

Himeros

Himeros (Latin: Himerus) was another son of Aphrodite and Ares. He has, like his two brothers, a bow and arrows, to create desire and lust in people. Himerus or Himeros: ( Ίμερος: uncontrollable desire) represented sexual desire or unrequited love.[13] Himeros was identified by his carrying of a taenia, a colourful headband worn by athletes.[14]

Anteros

Anteros was the god of requited love, literally "love returned" or "counterpart love" and also the punisher of those who scorn love and the advances of others, or the avenger of unrequited love.[15] Anteros was the son of Ares and Aphrodite in Greek mythology, given to his brother Eros, who was lonely, as a playmate. Physically, he is depicted as similar to Eros in every way. He has been described also as armed with either a golden club or arrows of lead.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Erotes, Eros and Pothos.

References

  1. ^ Conner, p. 64, "Aphrodite"
  2. ^ a b c d Conner, p. 133, "Erotes"
  3. ^ a b c d Conner, p. 132, "Eros"
  4. ^ Conner, p.270, "Pothos"
  5. ^ Younger, p. 45, "Eros/Cupid)
  6. ^ Strong, p. 265
  7. ^ Collins, pp. 100 & 167
  8. ^ Younger, p. 9, "Anteros"
  9. ^ Sturgeon, p. 124-125
  10. ^ Sturgeon, p. 126
  11. ^ a b Rabinowitz & Auanger, p. 239
  12. ^ Rigdgway, p. 115
  13. ^ a b Younger, p. 40, "Desire"
  14. ^ Conner, p. 178, "Himerus"
  15. ^ Evans, p. 20
  • Conner, Randy P. (1998). Cassell's Encylopedia of Queer Myth, Symbol and Spirit. UK: Cassell. ISBN 0304704237. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Sturgeon, Mary Carol (1977). Sculpture: the reliefs from the theater. ASCSA. ISBN 9780876610923. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Collins, Derek. Magic in the Ancient Greek World. 2008: Blackwell Pub. ISBN 9781405132381. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: location (link)
  • Rabinowitz, Nancy Sorkin (2002). Among women: from the homosocial to the homoerotic in the ancient world. University of Texas Press. ISBN 9780292771130. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Strong (1911). Roman sculpture from Augustus to Constantine, v. 2. Duckworth and co. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Ridgway, Brunilde Sismondo (2002). Hellenistic Sculpture: The styles of ca. 100-31 B.C. Univ of Wisconsin Press. ISBN 9780299177102. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Evans, Bergen (1970). Dictionary of mythology, mainly classical. Centennial Press. ISBN 9780299177102. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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