Collection: THE EROTES

THE EROTES were the winged gods of love, a multiplication of the god Eros. Their number was varied--Hesiod describes a pair, Eros (Love) and Himeros (Desire) who were present at the birth of Aphrodite, while later writers add a third, Pothos (Passion), to create a triad of goldings. Twin Erotes, Eros (Love) and Anteros (Love Reciprocated) were often portrayed gracing the scales of love. The lyric poets multiplied them into a numberless host of winged putti. The Erotes were purely creatures of poetic invention with no distinct mythology of their own.

In Greek vase painting the love-spirits were depicted as winged youths or children. In later art, especially mosaic, they were portrayed as putti (winged infants).

ANTEROS The god of mutual love, or love returned. He was sometimes also the avenger of unrequited love.

EROS (1) The ancient god of love and the agent of natural procreation. He was the eldest of the Erotes born at the creation of the universe.

EROS (2) The god of love. He was the most mischievous of the Erotes, who randomly shot out love-inducing darts from his golden bow.

HEDYLOGOS (Hedylogus) The god of sweet-talk and flattery.

HERMAPHRODITOS (Hermaphroditus) The hermaphroditic god. He was once a handsome winged youth, like the other Erotes, but his form was merged with that of the Nymphe Salmakis in answer to her prayers that the two should never be apart.

HIMEROS The god of sexual desire who accompanied Aphrodite from the moment of her birth.

HYMENAIOS (Hymenaeus) The god of the wedding ceremony.

POTHOS The god of passionate longing.