Eros and his siblings
Eros is the Greek god of love and desire. He is often depicted as a winged young boy, armed with a bow and arrows, which he uses to strike the hearts of mortals and gods, causing them to fall in love.
According to the common belief that Eros is the son of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, lust and beauty. A Greek god of love, Eros is commonly portrayed as a beautiful young man or a baby. He is often depicted with his siblings – Himeros, Anteros, and Pothos – or in the company of Aphrodite herself. Together with his three siblings, Eros makes up the Erotes, a group of love deities in Greek mythology.
Pothos is the god of longing and yearning. He is often depicted as a winged youth holding a wreath of flowers or a lyre. Pothos is associated with the intense longing and desire that often accompanies the experience of love.
Himeros, on the other hand, is the god of sexual desire. He is often depicted as a winged youth holding a torch or a bow and arrow. Himeros is associated with the physical aspects of love and desire.
Unlike his mischievous brother Eros, Anteros represents the reciprocal or mutual aspect of love, symbolizing love that is returned and fulfilled. He is often associated with the concepts of mutual love, requited love, and self-love, and was revered by the ancient Greeks as a god who could bring harmony and balance to relationships. According to some versions of the story, Eros and his brother Anteros are depicted as rivals. The latter is said to punish those who do not return the affection they receive from others. In contrast to Eros, who is often depicted carrying a bow and arrows, Anteros is usually shown carrying a golden club or lead-tipped arrows.
In some versions of the myth, Eros, Pothos, and Himeros are depicted as a trio, working together to create and sustain feelings of love and desire. Together, they represent different aspects of the experience of love, from the initial attraction and longing to the physical expression of desire.
In some depictions, Eros is also shown alongside other gods such as Hermes and Dionysus, as well as the Charites and the Muses.