Eros

In Greek mythology, the child-god of love, traditionally armed with bow and arrows. He was the son of Aphrodite, and fell in love with Psyche. He is identified with the Roman Cupid.

In early times he was regarded as a powerful god of uncontrollable desire; the Greek lyric poet Sappho described him as ‘bitter-sweet’.

He passed into philosophy with the work of the Greek pre-Socratic philosopher, Parmenides, exemplifying the power of the attraction of opposites. Plato, pupil of the Greek philosopher Socrates, also mentions Eros in Phaedo on immortality and Symposium on love.