Valentine’s Day: The Love Story of Cupid and Psyche

In September, I visited Capo Colonna on the east coast of Calabria. I’d been there before many years ago, but I had never been to the Museo Archeologico di Capo Colonna, which is located right next to the Archaeological Park where you can find the last standing column of the Temple dedicated to Hera Lacinia built in the 7th century B.C.

cupid and psyche

I’ll be writing more about Capo Colonna and this noteworthy and informative museum in the future. But this particular post is about something that peaked my interest within the museum – a sculpture that surfaced from a wreckage discovered in Punto Scifo, in the south-west waters near Capo Colonna.

valentine's day

This marble sculpture depicts Cupid (love) and Psyche (soul) in each others’ arms. Mythology has always fascinated me and I was instantly drawn to the story behind this sculpture, a story that I had never heard before.

I began looking into the story and, as you can imagine, there are so many variations to this myth. This particular version is from an ancient Roman novel called The Metamorphoses, which was written by Lucius Apuleius in the second century AD.

cupid and psyche

The Love Story of Cupid and Psyche

Psyche was a princess who possessed incredible beauty. She was so perfect that people worshiped her as the “new” incarnation of Venus. This did not go over well with Venus, who became very jealous. Seeking revenge, she ordered her son, Cupid, to use his arrow on the young princess to make her fall in love with the most hideous and despicable man alive.

But, Cupid, after laying eyes on Psyche, fell in love with her and used the arrow on himself. During this time, it became obvious that Psyche’s incredible mortal beauty had angered the gods. An oracle doomed her by revealing that she would marry a hideous monster who awaited her atop a mountain.

As Psyche was sitting atop the highest cliff awaiting her terrible fate, a wind came and swept her away. It took her to a secret place. She believed this was part of her destiny and was about to meet her future husband. She entered a dark room, so dark she couldn’t see a thing. So, she reached out to touch her husband, only he didn’t feel like a monster.

cupid and psyche

Each night, this faceless stranger came to visit her and before long Psyche discovered she was pregnant. She could no longer live with the thought of not knowing who her unseen future husband was. One night, as he slept, she approached him with a candle in hand. As she placed the candle close to his face, a single drop of oil fell, waking him. It was Cupid, the God of Love. He immediately felt betrayed and fled.

Psyche went out in search of Cupid to win his trust and love back. During her search, Venus confronted her and sent her out to complete three seemingly impossible tasks and only upon completing these tasks would she and Cupid be wed. Throughout her journey, she heard a voice which guided her through these difficult obstacles. Her final task was to travel to the underworld and convince the god of the dead to put a drop of her beauty into a box for Venus. Once again, she heard the voice that helped her through this last and most difficult task.

At this point, Psyche was exhausted and a little curious. She decided to open the box. However, the box didn’t contain beauty. It contained sleep – a sleep so strong that it made Psyche appear as though she was the living dead.

Cupid had been with Psyche all along and saw all the hardships she faced to prove her love. He flew to her rescue and gave her Ambrosia, the nectar of the gods. It lifted the terrible curse and made her immortal. They got married and soon welcomed their child named Pleasure.

This post is part of the #DolceVitaBloggers Linkup hosted by Jasmine, Kelly and Kristie the 3rd Sunday of every month. Check out my previous #DolceVitaBloggers blog posts here.

dolce vita bloggers

  1. Carmela (Bellissimamma)

    March 18, 2019 at 1:31 am

    I have always been fascinated with Psyche and Cupid’s love story. Thank you for retelling it. Would love to visit Calabria and meet up someday! #dolcevitabloggers

    1. LuLu

      March 19, 2019 at 10:52 am

      I’m glad you enjoyed re-reading! 🙂 If you ever come to Calabria, let me know! I would love to meet you too!! #dolcevitabloggers

  2. Kelly

    March 7, 2019 at 7:14 am

    This was such a beautiful story Lulu! I love mythology too. Before this I only knew of the Cupid & Psyche sculpture in the Louvre (so beautiful, one of my favorites!). I googled Capo Colonna and it looks like it’s right in Italy’s heel, how cool! What a gorgeous place too. Thank you for being part of #DolceVitaBloggers! <3

    1. LuLu

      March 11, 2019 at 12:58 pm

      Thanks so much! 🙂 I didn’t know there was a sculpture in the Louvre, is it similar? Glad you liked the story and look forward to future #DolceVitaBlogger posts! 🙂

  3. Kristie

    February 25, 2019 at 5:02 pm

    What a wonderful story. I love mythology! Thank you for sharing. The perfect post for February. x

    1. LuLu

      March 11, 2019 at 12:57 pm

      Thanks, I’m glad you liked it. It was interesting discovering the story behind the sculpture! 🙂

  4. Jasmine

    February 25, 2019 at 11:48 am

    I didn’t know this story at all!!! I loved it! Thank you so much for sharing this in your post LuLu and sorry I’m always so late commenting on your posts and you’re always so punctual haha. Thanks for joining us! #DolceVitaBloggers per sempre!

    1. LuLu

      March 11, 2019 at 12:57 pm

      Glad you liked it! 🙂

  5. Lucy and Kelly

    February 20, 2019 at 6:13 am

    Love reading things like this. Such an interesting story! 🙂
    Lucy and Kelly xx

    1. LuLu

      February 23, 2019 at 9:47 am

      Me too! I really enjoy looking into stories and legends of things I come across in museums or statues/monuments in towns! 🙂

  6. Cristina

    February 19, 2019 at 7:13 am

    What a beautiful story! I’m an archeology nerd and love this kind of stuff. That first photo of the partial temple on the beach is stunningly! Ciao, Cristina

    1. LuLu

      February 19, 2019 at 10:03 am

      Thanks Cristina! That column is the only one left standing and it’s quite incredible to think that it was towards the back-end of the temple….the sea has eroded the land and I really hope they are taking the necessary steps to protect this piece of history from being pulled in by the sea.

  7. Image Earth Travel

    February 14, 2019 at 11:50 am

    Enjoyed the read and myth.
    I’ll have to venture over to the Crotone area and check this one out when next I hire a car – buses are a bit hit and miss from Cosenza. The museum looks really interesting.

    1. LuLu

      February 19, 2019 at 10:06 am

      Glad you liked it! Yes, the biggest issue with Crotone is it’s not very well connected to the rest of Calabria and getting there without a car is sometimes difficult, especially if you want to do a day trip like we did.

  8. tessie antonakos

    February 14, 2019 at 11:27 am

    Thanks Lulu, well written.. A pleasure to read. Next time you’re in Capo Colonna look me up… I:m a 3 minute drive from there. I’ve been living in this particular area for over 10years and I can truly tell its magical. Originally from Ottawa, Tessie

    1. LuLu

      February 19, 2019 at 10:06 am

      Thanks Tessie, I didn’t realize you were THAT close to Capo Colonna…the next time I’m that way I’ll definitely give you a heads up!! 🙂 It would be lovely to meet!

  9. Mara

    February 13, 2019 at 7:10 pm

    I too love mythology and its lessons. What a great myth. What a magnificent site . I would like to revisit it. Perfect love story.

    1. LuLu

      February 14, 2019 at 8:09 am

      Thanks Mara! I didn’t remember hearing this story before but the sculpture drew me in and I had to look into it.

  10. KareninCalabria

    February 13, 2019 at 3:54 pm

    An excellent museum, beautiful sculpture and great idea for Valentine’s Day! Thanks for the story.

    1. LuLu

      February 14, 2019 at 8:07 am

      Thanks Karen, I’m always a sucker for a love story! 🙂 And the museum really is great. There was a lot of info and we spent quite a bit of time looking at everything! And it’s free!!

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