Before Cupid, there was Eros. Meet the ancient Greek god! Eros, the Greek divinity of desire, is recognizable by his wings and youthful appearance. Aphrodite is sometimes identified as his mother, and he stands obediently before her on the gold ring above. Greek vase painters regularly depicted Eros as an attractive youth, as seen on the drinking cup in the second image, which shows him accompanying an athlete. In time, Eros appeared more frequently in female settings and was often depicted as a child. In the next image of a little perfume jar, he attends to a seated woman, perhaps the mythical Helen. Eros's ability to instill love and affection made him truly mighty. He can sometimes be shown emulating or accompanying the great hero Herakles—an effective way of conveying his great power. Eros (Cupid to the ancient Romans) could certainly be a charming figure, and in Roman art, multiple Cupids might appear in a single scene. Swipe again to see a sarcophagus decorated with Cupids ...