Psyche & Eros
Definition of the word psyche or psycho: breath, mind, spirit, air.
It's the one thing we all need and share.
We all breathe the same air.
Webster Definition for "psyche"
Psy. che \'si--ke-\ n [L] [Gk psyche-] 1: a beautiful princess of classical mythology loved by Cupid not cap 2: SOUL, SELF; also : MIND
Definition
Psy·che Psy·che (sk)
1. (Class Myth.) A lovely maiden, daughter of a king and mistress of Eros, or Cupid. She is regarded as the personification of the soul.
2. The soul; the vital principle; the mind.
How Love (Eros) came to the Soul (Psyche)
Short outline of the story
Psyche was the daughter of an unknown king. Her beauty was so extraordinary that men would worship her instead of courting her. Aphrodite then, out of jealousy for her beauty, sent Eros to make Psyche fall in love with some unworthy man while an oracle said that Psyche must wed a horrible monster on the top of a mountain. Psyche then was first exposed, and then carried by the wind to a castle. But Eros, instead of obeying Aphrodite, fell in love with Psyche and visited her every night, although never allowing Psyche to see him. However, following the advices dictated by jealousy that her two sisters gave her, Psyche managed to know who her lover was. Eros then deserted her, and when their love was discovered, Psyche suffered the wrath of Aphrodite, who mistreated her in many ways. However, after several complications the lovers could reunite, and Psyche was reconciled with Aphrodite and made immortal.
Thus Psyche became at last united to Cupid, and in due time they had a daughter born to them whose name was Pleasure.
The fable of Cupid and Psyche is usually considered allegorical. The Greek name for a butterfly is Psyche, and the same word means the soul. There is no illustration of the immortality of the soul so striking and beautiful as the butterfly, bursting on brilliant wings from the tomb in which it has lain, after a dull, grovelling, caterpillar existence, to flutter in the blaze of day and feed on the most fragrant and delicate productions of the spring.* Psyche, then, is the human soul, which is purified by sufferings and misfortunes, and is thus prepared for the enjoyment of true and pure happiness.
* [see Aristotle's History of Animals 551a.1]
A bit more of the story:
Psyche in the Underworld
Psyche did what she was told, and when she met Persephone, still following instructions she sat on the ground instead of on the cushioned chair she was offered, and she refused the meal that was served in front of her. For he who eats in the Underworld has to stay there for ever, and he who sits in that chair forgets everything. So Persephone, having listened to Psyche, filled the box as the girl requested, and Psyche was allowed to return to the world of lovely light.
Curiosity puts Psyche in danger again
But as before Psyche could not restrain her curiosity, and thinking besides that taking a tiny touch of the beauty contained in the box would show that she was clever and not a fool who lets go by such an splendid opportunity, she opened the box, but out crept not beauty but truly Stygian sleep, and falling to the ground, she lay like a corpse, the open box beside her.
Eros rescues Psyche
Now Psyche would have slept for ever, had not Eros, now recovered from his sickness, come to her and awakened her, which was bound to happen. For there is no place for Love to dwell except in the Soul, who animates all things, and there is no meaning for the Soul to live and be awake except for the sake of Love. So Eros shut the cloud of sleep up again in the box and roused Psyche with the harmless prick of an arrow.
Eros helped by Zeus
Eros now consoled Psyche, but fearing his mother, he flew off to Heaven, and casting himself as a suppliant at the supreme god's feet, he pleaded his case. So Zeus, who had been defiled by Eros so many times, found on this occasion the opportunity to prevent Eros, by marrying him, from shooting so many arrows at his divine heart, so often and in such an unpredictable manner. Zeus then called a council of the gods in which he informed his decision, that Eros was to marry Psyche, possess her, and cherish her for all times to come.
After having Psyche chosen as the answer to which Goddess I am on one of those little tests I adore so much, I decided to look into it a bit further. One of the things I am wondering is where did Psychiatry & Psychology come from and shouldn't they be renamed?
Peace, Love & Light! ~Wenchie
