Sunday, February 13, 2011

Cupid ~ by any other name...

Say ‘Cupid’ and everyone thinks of cubby cherubs, hearts and flowers and Valentine’s day.

Say EROS, or even KAMA, and I think most would give you a blank stare and say ‘Huh?’  And yet they are, as the saying goes, ‘A rose by any other name…’ or to be exact A Cupid by another name.
Take EROS, good old Greek Eros, who just happens to be the same little guy as the Romans call Cupid.  In ancient paintings Eros is depicted as either a handsome youth or as a child. His attributes were varied: from the usual bow and arrows, to the gifts of a lover.
Like Cupid Eros had/has a penchant for letting fly with his bow and arrows, but few people think of hearts and flowers in relation to Eros.  In romance fiction they are more likely to equate Eros with erotica, a whole sub genre of the romance book scene.
According to WikipediA ‘Erotic literature comprises fictional and factual stories and accounts of human sexual relationships which have the power to or are intended to arouse the reader sexually.’
Given EROS is often described as the mischievous god of love, a minion and constant companion of the goddess Aphrodite, it’s not really surprising.

Look up KAMA, the Hindu equivalent of Cupid and Eros, and you will come across the Kamasutra, often described as 'the bible for good sexual relationships'.

It seems that each, in their own way, has contributed to love, romance, and soul mates.  But only Cupid bagged the single purpose-day-holiday when people all over the world celebrate, renew and remember why they need love in their lives.

Is it any wonder that so many authors enjoy weaving such wonderful stories around Cupid in all his guises?

The Wrong Target by Sherry Gloag is available at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk and many other places online



You can find Sherry Gloag at
Website: www.sherrygloag.com
Blogspot: http://tinyurl.com/68oomm6

Her latest books can be found here and other places online:-
The Wrong Target - http://tinyurl.com/5vadzhq
And
The Brat, her debut novel - http://tinyurl.com/5spkumm

16 comments:

Unknown said...

I guess cupits arrows will be striking tomorrow, so beware everyone.

lead[at]hotsheet[dot]com

Maria D. said...

I love that the same thing can go by different names in different cultures...Yay for the little cherub with arrows!

junegirl63(at)gmail(dot)com

doxymom said...

Very interesting. I didn't know all that.

doxisrcool at aol.com

LORETTA CANTON said...

It is nice to learn some information that you didn't know.



loretta
lbcanton@verizon.net

Ellz said...

I think cupids arrow had really bad aim 'cause he missed me this year (actually I am quite releaved). Thanks for the info, it was interesting.

Di said...

Thanks - try to learn something new everyday!

sallans d at yahoo dot com

Michaela said...

Cupid maybe smaller in some variations but he snagged the big one! A day related to him only.

Raquel Byrnes said...

You know, everyone has heard of Cupid...but Eros...not so much. Interesting post.
Edge of Your Seat Romance

Sherry Gloag said...

Yep, Virginia :-) your choice as to whether to keep your heaad down or not. LOL
Thanks for visiting my blogs throughout the day. Have a great V. day.

Sherry Gloag said...

Maria, somewhere in the back of my mind, I think I knew about Eros, but Kama came as a great surprise. A nice one though! :-)
Have a great V Day

Sherry Gloag said...

Hi again doxymom, glad I gave you something new :-) Hope your Valentine day brings everything you want from it.

Sherry Gloag said...

Thanks for coming by Loretta, I didn't know about Kama, I'd heard of 'karma' but not the little guy Kama. :-)
Have a great V day

Sherry Gloag said...

LOL Elie, - you've just given me a great for a story for next year. :-) Thanks.
Have a great V Day. :-)

Sherry Gloag said...

Di, :-) LOL, glad I could help!! Thanks for coming by, Hope your Valentine's Day is all you wish it to be.

Sherry Gloag said...

You got it, Michaela, (love your name) the little guy bagged the big one!
Have a great V day. :-)

Sherry Gloag said...

Thanks for coming by and your comment Raqhel, I hope you have a great Valentine's day. :-)