Psyche is the greek word for the soul and the word from which our word psychology derives. The myth of cupid and psyche is one of the stories that our hero hears as an ass, and it seems to embody his own odyssey in the story of the human soul. Cupid and psyche from edith hamilton, mythology little, brown, 1942 this story is found only in the work of apuleius, a latin writer. The envious goddess venus sends her son cupid to punish the ravishing mortal psyche, but cupid falls in love with psyche and disobeys his mothers orders. Amongst myths the principle of reciprocal illumination applies. Feb 05, 2009 greek mythology an introduction to cupid and psyche slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Th e sentence structure and grammatical constructions are relatively simple, but the unusual. The story of eros and psyche cupid and psyche wiki. See more ideas about cupid and psyche, cupid, eros and psyche. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading painted blind. Mythic s1 e1 the myth of cupid and psyche brendan pelsue duration. The great love story of cupid and psyche thoughtco. Psychological interpretation of the cupid and psyche myth. She instructs her son, cupid, to pierce the girl with an arrow and make her fall in love.
Other articles where cupid and psyche is discussed. In the end, they got married, stayed in olympus and aphrodite got over her jealousy. This worksheetquiz will test you on the eros and psyche myth from ancient greece. Jun 03, 2018 there is another story that takes us into the depths of love, called the myth of cupid and psyche, which is part of the book metamorphoses, also known as the golden ass. The remainder of the myth takes up psyches search for her beloved. The story of cupid and psyche comes to us from the ancient roman novel metamorphoses by apuleius, which was written in the latter half of the second century ce. The great greek goddess of love and beauty, aphrodite or venus in latin, was born from the foam near the island of cyprus, for which reason she is referred to as the cyprian. Th e cupid and psyche story is by far the longest of these embedded tales.
It is a tale where humans and gods get hurt, where malice poisons their dreams, and where, through trust, love and soul will become forever inseparable. Cupid and psyche is a story from the latin novel metamorphoses, also known as the golden ass, written in the 2nd century ad. Marie crafts lively, suspenseful retelling of this classic greek myth will appeal to young and old alike. Venus, furious at her sons disobedience, sets psyche. Finally, psyche was given divine advice on how to surpass the dangers of hades. Cupid and psyche is a famous ancient grecoroman myth. But cupid being now recovered from his wound, and not able longer to bear the absence of his beloved psyche, slipping through the smallest crack of the window of his chamber which happened to be left open, flew to the spot where psyche lay, and gathering up the sleep from her body closed it again in the box, and waked psyche with a light touch. Once upon a time there lived a king and a queen, says the old woman in apuleius, beginning the tale of cupid and psyche with that ancient formula which has been dear to so many generations of children. This short story unit is an adaptation of the roman myth of cupid and psyche, created for grades 4 6. Myth and legend in childrens literature, and is not to be duplicated. E he was an african, an excellent follower of plato his sect, born in madaura, a countrey sometime inhabited by the romans, and under the jurisdiction of syphax, scituate and lying on the borders of numidia and getulia, whereby he called himself half a numidian and half a getulian. Psyche receiving the first kiss from cupid 1798 by francoispascalsimon gerard.
However, zephyr, the west wind, carries the waiting psyche to a majestic palace where she bathes and feasts royally, attended by mysterious voices. Theres a girl named psyche who was more beautiful than aphrodite, the god of beauty. Psyche crossing the river styx there are many versions and many interpretations of the eros and psyche myth. The romance of cupid and psyche, while embedded in a fine novel by apuleius, has been. Part ii cast eros young god of love psyche a beautiful mortal princess aphrodite goddess of love and beauty zephyr west wind zeus lord of olympus voicereed a talking reed ant queen leader of an ant colony charon aged ferryman of the underworld hades lord of the underworld persephone queen of the underworld psyche. Cupid finally went to find psyche after he realized he still loved her and once he found her, he went to the gods and asked them to give psyche immortality and to formally marry them. The story was written in the 2 nd century ad by a platonist philosopher, lucius apuleius. It is a story of great charm, a fact which has been reflected in the numerous retellings since apuleiuss time. Ok, so the word psyche literally means soul in greek. Cupid and psyche is a roman myth written in the 2nd century ce, based on similar, much older folktales from europe and asia. The myth of cupid and psyche is not only the first and bestknown classical myth with fairytale elements but. Pdf the retellings of the cupid and psyche myth in calderon. People throughout the land worship her beauty so deeply that they forget about the goddess venus.
It concerns the overcoming of obstacles to the love between psyche soul or breath of life and cupid desire, and their ultimate union in a sacred marriage. It details her despair and her triumphs as she entreats the goddesses ceres and juno for help, then goes to venus herself. Cupid sets eyes of psyche and cannot follow through his mother, venuss, evil plan close up of cupid and psyche by del sellaio 1473 at the fitzwilliam museum, cambridge. Whats practically the opposite of a modern day love story. Eros and psyche story complete greek mythology cupid and. Cupid and psyche is a story from the latin novel metamorphoses, also known as the golden ass, written in the 2nd century ad by apuleius. The tale concerns the overcoming of obstacles to the love between psyche. And these legendary lovers have inspired forty lush luminous paintings by. Cupid and psyche project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. The legend of cupid and psyche also known as the tale of amour and psyche and the tale of eros and psyche first appeared as a digressionary story told by an old woman in lucius apuleius novel, the golden ass, written in the 2nd century ad. Though probably part of an older greek oral tradition, the popular european story of a beauty marrying a beast, discovering his inner beauty, losing him for lack of trust or by thoughtlessness, and regaining him through a long and arduous quest, had its first literary appearance in the latin novel.
Psyche was born so beautiful that she was worshipped as a new incarnation of venus, the goddess of love. Pdf the retellings of the cupid and psyche myth in. Thus psyche became at last united to cupid, and in due time they had a daughter born to them whose name was pleasure. Cupid and psyche 1817 by francoisedouard picot 17861868. The fullest version of the tale is that told by the 2ndcenturyad latin author apuleius in his metamorphoses, books ivvi the golden ass. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Read their story before answering the comprehension questions at the end. The myth of psyche and eros is probably one of the most beautiful greek myths. According to italo calvino, the tale of cupid and psyche reflects the spirituality of the mediterranean world aprile ix.
This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of cupid and psyche by apuleius. In a far, mountainous kingdom, a king had three daughters. Venus becomes angry that her temples are falling to ruin, so she plots to ruin psyche. Perhaps the greatest love story of all, cupid and psyche is unsurpassed in its richness and drama. The myth of cupid and psyche brendan pelsue youtube. Cupid falls in love with psyche and is unable to carry out venus. But psyche s story ended up being much more interesting.
Many writers have interpreted it as an allegory, with cupid representing love and psyche the soul. This one, from a talk by jean shinoda bolen in 2004, is one of the better ones. Its plot resembles familiar fairy tales such as beauty and the beast and cinderella, but its literary texture is typical of the rest of the golden ass. Cupid, however, falls in love with her himself and magically prevents anyone else from doing so. Apuleius cupid and psyche is a great text for intermediate readers. Soul in classical mythology, princess of outstanding beauty who aroused venus jealousy and cupids love. The story of cupid and psyche can be found in the book, the golden ass, which was written by here is a quiz on one of my favorite greek myths the story of cupid and psyche can be found in the book, the golden ass, which was written by here is a quiz on one of my favorite greek myths the story of cupid and psyche can be found in. Apuleius likely used an earlier tale as the basis for his story, modifying it to suit the thematic needs. Hang out with two seriously challenged love birds, the god cupid and his human girlfriend psyche. It could have been adapted from a folktale or have its roots in ancient myth.
Bedtime and campfire stories from way, way back in the day. Jan 25, 20 cupid and psyche also amor or eros and psyche is old greek myth, first written by apuleius in second century, although the story is probably much older at least sculptures are. Brendan pelsue shares the myth of cupid and psyche. This is a story about beauty, about human and divine rivalry, and about the trials of love. Psyche is a beautiful young woman, whose good looks draw more attention than the goddess venus. But psyches story ended up being much more interesting. Answer the interactive questions in your free time or print out. Integrating aesthetics into introduction to psychology. The charms of the two elder were more than common, but the beauty of the youngest was so wonderful that the poverty of language is unable to express its due praise. Cupid and psyche is a story originally from metamorphoses, written.
Cupid contemplates a visit by psyches sisters, detail from psyche and her sisters by jeanhonore fragonard left. Men would go and look to see her but no one wanted to marry her. Cupid flees the house and runs to venus to heal his wound. Viewing the myth through the lens of neoplatonism and, especially, plotinus, taylor wrote that it was.
The story of cupid and psyche can be found in the book, the golden ass, which was written by. Part i cast erosvoice young god of love psyche beautiful mortal princess aphrodite goddess of love and beauty king psyches father sister one psyches conceited sister sister two psyches other conceited sister zephyr the west wind servant invisible servant narrator. But human lovers were too intimidated to approach her, and apollo recommended her father abandon her on a crag where she would marry a cruel and savage, serpentlike winged evil. The story is part of africanus comic novel the golden ass. Cupid and psyche was always a favorite of the greek myths and coming across this beautifully drawn adaptation is a nice touch. Ashlimans folktexts, a library of folktales, folklore, fairy tales, and mythology.
I find this myth interesting because we can recognize patterns of at least two popular fairy tales in it. There is another story that takes us into the depths of love, called the myth of cupid and psyche, which is part of the book metamorphoses, also known as the golden ass. Once upon a time, so the story goes, there was a king with three daughters. The whole tale of cupid and psyche can be seen as an allegory, or symbolic story, for the struggle of the human soul to reach eternal bliss.
Lecture for the independent group of analytical psychologists london, may 18th 2018 the myth of cupido and psyche appears as a story within a story, told by a drunken old woman in a cave, in apuleius metamorphoses or golden ass. Apollo convinces psyches father to leave her at the top of a hill to be wed to a monster. Cupid is sent to cast a spell on psyche by his mother venus, wh o is jealous of psyche s beauty. An excellent resource for the study and analysis of. To modern days, the myth of psyche symbolizes a selfsearch and personal growth through learning, losing, and saving the real love. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. Psyches hands tremble, spilling hot oil from the lamp and burning the god, revealing her deception. Psyche was a woman gifted with extreme beauty and grace.
Check out thomas bulfinchs version of cupid and psyche from the age of fable. The archetype of the greek myth of psyche and eros appears regularly in movies and artifacts even today. Psyche, and flies wounded back to the house of his mother, venus. Cupid and psyche by apuleius, free pdf, ebook global grey. Psyche was a woman gifted with extreme beauty and grace, one of the mortal women whose love and sacrifice for her beloved god eros earned her immortality psyche became, as greek word psyche implies, the deity of soul. An excellent resource for the study and analysis of this myth. In the love story of eros cupid in latin and psyche meaning soul in greek, we can see the perseverance of a man even when he is possessed by passion and. The myth of cupid and psyche the story of cupid and psyche is featured in the book entitled old greek folk stories by josephine preston peabody, published in 1907 by houghton mifflin company, new york. The story of cupid and psyche by jacopo del sellaio 1442. Greek mythology cupid and psyche linkedin slideshare. A stunningly beautiful girl, psyche, is born after two older sisters.
Greek mythology an introduction to cupid and psyche slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Though probably part of an older greek oral tradition, the popular european story of a beauty marrying a beast, discovering his inner beauty, losing him for lack of trust or by thoughtlessness, and regaining him through a long and arduous quest, had its first literary appearance in the latin. Cupid and psyche is a story originally from metamorphoses also called the golden ass, written in the 2nd century ad by lucius apuleius madaurensis or platonicus. As already suggested, the meaning of a myth is found in large part by personal engagement with it. Th e story of cupid and psyche another diff erence between lucians onos and the golden ass is that the latter includes a number of embedded tales, told by various narrators and reported to us by lucius as part of his adventures.
Venus, enraged that psyche has once again defied her, forces her to perform four seemingly impossible tasks. Although the characters of cupid and psyche can be found in greek art as early as the 4 th century bc, the earliest written record of this story was written by apuleius in the 2 nd century ad. Mythology cupid and psyche summary and analysis gradesaver. She starts talking about the myth about of the way through the article. The tale involves the love relationship between a mortal and a god, and it is a rarity in classical literature, in that it has a happy ending. Mar 06, 2017 mythic s1 e1 the myth of cupid and psyche brendan pelsue duration. Psyche in the temple of love 1882 by edward poynter.
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