Digital Maps of the Ancient World

Erotes

Eros, the god of love, wasn’t alone in his mischievous endeavors. He was accompanied by a swarm of winged companions known as the Erotes. These weren’t mere duplicates, but rather a representation of love’s multifaceted nature. Each Erote embodied a specific aspect of love, from passionate desire to playful flirtation.

Mosaic of the Erotes riding birds, from Utica. Bardo National Museum. (c) theoi

Residence: Mount Olympus
Symbols: Bow, Arrows, Lyre, Candles, Hearts, Wings and Kisses
Parents: Ares and Aphrodite
Siblings: Harmonia, Phobus, Deimus and Adrestia
Roman equivalent: Cupids

They were not only associated with heterosexual love, but also with same-sex desire, reflecting the complexity of love’s embrace. In some myths, the Erotes were seen as playful manifestations of the singular Eros, while others depicted them as distinct entities. Regardless of their interpretation, the Erotes added a vibrant and mischievous energy to Aphrodite’s retinue, ever ready to nudge hearts and kindle desires.

Anterus: The Avenger of Unrequited Love: Anterus wasn’t just the god of requited love; he was the equalizer, the one who ensured hearts returned affection. He balanced the sometimes-cruel arrows of Eros.

Eros: The Divine Matchmaker: Eros, the most recognized Erote, wasn’t just the god of love and desire; he was the divine matchmaker, the one who sparked attraction and ignited passions.

Hedylogus: The Master of Sweet Words: Hedylogus wasn’t merely the god of sweet-talk; he was the master of persuasion, weaving words that charmed and seduced.

Hermaphroditus: The Duality of Desire: Hermaphroditus wasn’t just the god of hermaphrodites; he embodied the concept of duality within love, the blurring of lines between masculine and feminine desire.

Himerus: The Allure of Unfulfilled Longing: Himerus wasn’t just the god of desire; he personified the bittersweet ache of unrequited love, the yearning that fuels longing and fuels pursuit.

Hymenaeus: The Guardian of the Wedding Vow: Hymenaeus wasn’t just the god of weddings; he was the guardian of the marital bond, ensuring the sanctity and joy of the union.

Pothus: The Yearning Heart: Pothus wasn’t just the god of longing; he personified the deep yearning that tugs at the heartstrings, the ache of desire, and the anticipation of fulfillment.

Art

Fresco of Aphrodite, Eros and the Erotes. Naples National Archaeological Museum. (c) theoi
Mosaic of Aphrodite and chariot of Erotes, from Thuburbo Maius, 4th c AD. Bardo National Museum. (c) theoi
Fresco of Anterus on Aphrodite’s shoulder as Peitho leads Eros towards his punishment, c. 25 BC, Pompeii. (c) PlanetPompeii
Bronze Statue of a Sleeping Eros, 3rd-2nd c. BC. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Statue of Pothos. Centrale Montemartini. (c) Marie-Lan Nguyen
Hymen depicted on a Roman mosaic, Ostia. (c) Marie-Lan Nguyen
Aphrodite with Himeros, detail from a silver kantharos, c. 420-410 BC. (c) Gorgonchica
Fresco of Hermaphroditus, c. 1-50 AD, from Herculaneum. Naples National Archaeology Museum.
Hedylogos and Pothos proceeding in front of a chariot drawn by Aphrodite. Attic red figure cylindrical pyxis, c. 420-400 BC. (c) ArchaiOptix