Psyche, a mortal woman of exceptional beauty, was loved by Cupid, also known as Eros in Greek mythology. The story of Psyche and Cupid is a famous myth that has been interpreted in various ways over the centuries. As an expert in the field of mythology, I can provide a detailed account of their tale.

Psyche was so radiant that people began to worship her as if she were a goddess, which led to neglecting the worship of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. This caused Aphrodite to become extremely jealous. In her envy, Aphrodite devised a plan to ruin Psyche's life. She asked her son, Eros, to use his golden arrows to make Psyche fall in love with the most despicable creature on earth.

However, Eros was supposed to do this without seeing Psyche, as Aphrodite feared that his own beauty might lead to him falling in love with her. But fate had other plans. Eros accidentally pricked himself with one of his golden arrows and fell deeply in love with Psyche. He could not carry out his mother's cruel plan, and instead, he married Psyche in secret and took her to a luxurious palace, where they lived a life of happiness.

Eros warned Psyche, however, that she must never look upon his face, as their love was to remain a secret. Psyche, obeying her husband, lived in blissful ignorance of his true identity. But her sisters, driven by jealousy and curiosity, convinced her that her husband was a monster and that she should discover his true form. Against Eros's wishes, Psyche one night lit a lamp to look upon her husband's face. To her surprise and delight, she discovered that he was not a monster but the most beautiful of all gods, Eros himself.

Unfortunately, the oil from the lamp spilled onto Eros, waking him from his sleep. He was deeply hurt by Psyche's disobedience and flew away, leaving Psyche alone and heartbroken. This marked the beginning of Psyche's quest to reunite with her true love, which involved a series of trials and tribulations, each more difficult than the last.

Psyche's journey was a test of her love, loyalty, and virtue. She was tasked with impossible tasks by Aphrodite, such as sorting a room full of mixed grains in a single night, obtaining golden羊毛 (golden fleece or wool) from dangerous sheep, and retrieving a box from the underworld. Each task was meant to be a death sentence, but through her resourcefulness and the help of various divine and mortal allies, Psyche was able to complete them.

In the end, Eros, moved by Psyche's unwavering love and determination, pleaded with the gods to allow them to be together. Jupiter (Zeus), the king of the gods, granted Psyche immortality and allowed her to join Eros in Olympus. Their love story is celebrated as a symbol of the triumph of love over adversity.

The myth of Psyche and Cupid is rich with symbolism and has been the subject of much artistic and literary interpretation. It explores themes of love, beauty, jealousy, and the human quest for the divine. It also serves as a reminder that true love often comes with trials and that trust and loyalty are essential in any relationship.

Now, let's proceed with the translation into Chinese.

read more >>

Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, heard about Psyche and her sisters and was jealous of all the attention people paid to Psyche. So she summoned her son, Eros, and told him to put a spell on Psyche.read more >>