In the primordial myths, according to Hesiod, Eros was born from Chaos after and Tartarus and was involved at the beginning of the creation of the cosmos, and he blessed the union of Gaia and, after which the universe was born. Homer makes no mention of Eros in his epics; however, Parmenides, a pre-Socratic philosopher, had Eros the first of all the gods to come into existence. Eros was responsible for spurring procreation at the beginning of the cosmos. Hesiod described the two love gods, Eros and Himeros (Desire), accompanying Aphrodite from her conception from the sea-foam created by the castration of Uranus.
In later sources, Eros is the son of Aphrodite and, whose mischievous meddling in the affairs of gods and mortals caused bonds of love to form and drama to unfold. In early Greek poetry and art, Eros was depicted as an adult, handsome male carrying a lyre or a bow and arrow. He embodied love, athleticism, sexual power and art. Eros was often regarded as the protector of homosexual love between men.
In later, satirical works, Eros is depicted as a blindfolded male carrying a bow and arrow with the power to make any human fall in love with the first person they would see. This representation is the precursor to the chubby childlike Renaissance Cupid. As Aphrodite's son, Eros seems to lose some of his power, wisdom and great age. He becomes more of a companion or an accomplice to his mother. This could be one possible explanation for the evolution of Eros transforming in myth art from a handsome man to a chubby mischievous child. ' [source: www.greekgodsandgoddesses.net ]
As I delve deeper into the myths that were created in order for the manifestation of Eros to conclude, I'll be using the primordial myths as a guide for his birth into reality, while adding the mischievous layer that he received in later myths. I hope to properly depict him and to have fun role-playing as the god of sensual love and desire. -- Andy
