Once upon a time, in the ancient mythological world, there lived a beautiful mortal woman named Psyche. Her extraordinary beauty was the talk of the land, and people from far and wide came to gaze upon her radiant face and offer gifts and worship. This, however, brought her both admiration and jealousy.
Psyche’s beauty was so renowned that it began to rival that of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty herself. Enraged by the mortal’s beauty and the diminishing attention she received, Aphrodite decided to take matters into her own divine hands.
Aphrodite summoned her son, Eros, the mischievous god of desire, and ordered him to use his golden arrows to make Psyche fall in love with a monstrous creature. But fate had other plans. As Eros prepared to carry out his mother’s command, he accidentally pricked himself with one of his own arrows, and instantly, he fell deeply in love with Psyche.
One night, as Psyche lay sleeping in her chamber, Eros approached her. He spoke to her in the darkness, declaring his love and promising to always be with her. Although she couldn’t see him, Psyche was comforted by his words and as time passed, grew to love him in return.
Psyche’s love for her mysterious suitor grew stronger with each passing night. She longed to see his face, but he insisted on remaining hidden. He wished to be loved as an equal not as a God. Her sisters, jealous of her happiness, convinced her that her lover was a monstrous creature who would eventually harm her. Driven by curiosity and fear, Psyche decided to uncover the truth.
One night, while Eros was asleep, she lit an oil lamp to reveal his identity. To her astonishment, she found herself gazing upon the divine and handsome form of the God of love himself. However, in her shock, her clumsiness betrayed her, and a drop of hot oil fell from the lamp, waking Eros.
Eros, betrayed and heartbroken, flew away, leaving Psyche all alone. Devastated by her mistake, she resolved to win back her beloved Eros.
Her journey to reunite with Eros was filled with trials and tribulations. She faced seemingly impossible tasks given to her by Aphrodite, including sorting a massive pile of grains, collecting golden fleece from dangerous sheep, stealing water from the River Styx and the most difficult challenge was the last, she had to ask the Queen of the Underworld for a piece of her beauty (How do you give away beauty? Hand over your serums and face creams? Your makeup?). Psyche’s determination and purity of heart earned her the assistance of various creatures and even the favour of Zeus himself.
Ultimately, Psyche’s unwavering love and her journey of self-discovery led her to a divine banquet on Mount Olympus. There, she was reunited with Eros, and the Gods, moved by her story, granted her immortality, making her a goddess. She became the Goddess of the soul, the breath of life.
The story of Eros and Psyche is a testament to the power of love, the trials faced in relationships, and the transformative nature of the human soul, which is as relevant now as it was more that two thousand years ago.
It reminds us that love can conquer even the most daunting challenges.
