The Truth About Cupid

May 2024 · 1 minute read

Per Britannica, Cupid is the Roman interpretation of the god. In Roman mythology, he was born to Venus and Mercury (the latter being Hermes' counterpart, the messenger god). With his mother being the Goddess of Love, it seems that Cupid's role was clear: he was born to spread the message of love. Cupid was sometimes depicted by the Romans as an armor-clad warrior, but it would be the much more common cherubic image of him that persisted until the present day.

In Victorian Britain, the Victoria and Albert Museum explains, Valentine's Day cards became incredibly popular, thanks to mass production and a cheaper and wider-reaching postal service. These cards ranged from saccharine, lacy confections to so-called "vinegar Valentines" — shocking or insulting cards that proved the Victorians actually could have a wicked sense of humor when they wanted to. Many of the classic, romantic cards featured nymphs, fairies, and cherubs like Cupid himself, though. Many still do.

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