Erotes
In Ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Erotes (/əˈroʊtiːz/; Ancient Greek: ἔρωτες, érōtes) are a collective of winged gods associated with love and sexual intercourse. They are part of Aphrodite's retinue, along with the Charites. Erotes is the plural of Eros ("Love, Desire"), who as a singular deity has a more complex mythology.
The Erotes became a motif of Hellenistic art, and may appear in Roman art in the alternate form of multiple Cupids. In the later tradition of Western art, Erotes become indistinguishable from figures also known as Cupids, amorini, or amoretti.[1][2]
General role and attributes
[edit]The Erotes are a group of winged gods in Classical mythology. They are associated with love and sexual desire, and form part of Aphrodite's retinue. Sometimes the Erotes are regarded as manifestations of a singular god, Eros.[3]: 45
The Erotes' pranks were a popular theme in Hellenistic art, particularly in the 2nd century CE.[4] Spells to attract or repel Erotes were used, in order to induce love or the opposite.[5]
The Erotes were usually portrayed as nude, handsome, winged youths.[citation needed] The earliest known sculptured friezes depicting a group of Erotes and winged maidens driving chariots pulled by goats, were created to decorate theatres in ancient Greece in the 2nd century BCE.[6]: 124–125 The representation of Erotes in such friezes became common, including Erotes in hunting scenes.[6]: 126 Due to their role in the classical mythological pantheon, the Erotes' representation is sometimes purely symbolic (indicating some form of love) or they may be portrayed as individual characters.[7] The presence of Erotes in otherwise non-sexual images, such as of two women, has been interpreted to indicate a homoerotic subtext.[7] In the cult of Aphrodite in Anatolia, iconographic images of the goddess with three Erotes symbolized the three realms over which she had dominion: the Earth, sky, and water.[8]
Gallery
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See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Ferguson, John (1970). The Religions of the Roman Empire. Cornell University Press. p. 145. ISBN 9780801405679.
- ^ Barkan, Leonard (1999). Unearthing the Past: Archaeology and aesthetics in the making of Renaissance culture. Yale University Press. p. 138.
- ^ [full citation needed]Original citations were <<Younger, p. 45, "Eros/Cupid">> and <<Younger, p. 40, "Desire">> with no other reference to an author or title containing Younger.
- ^ Strong (1911). Roman sculpture from Augustus to Constantine. Vol. 2. Duckworth and Co. p. 265.
- ^ Collins, Derek (2008). Magic in the Ancient Greek World. Blackwell. pp. 100, 167. ISBN 978-1-4051-3238-1.
- ^ a b Sturgeon, Mary Carol (1977). Sculpture: The reliefs from the theater. ASCSA. ISBN 978-0-87661-092-3.
- ^ a b Rabinowitz, Nancy Sorkin; Auanger, Lisa (2002). Among Women: From the homosocial to the homoerotic in the ancient world. University of Texas Press. p. 239. ISBN 978-0-292-77113-0.
- ^ Ridgway, Brunilde Sismondo (2002). Hellenistic Sculpture: The styles of ca. 100-31 B.C.. University of Wisconsin Press. p. 115. ISBN 978-0-299-17710-2.
External links
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