"Anakreon tuned his lyre and threatened that if the Erotes (Loves) did not at once wound the youth, he would never again strike up a song in their praise." Himeros and Peitho, Athenian red-figure calyx krater C5th B.C., Regional Archeological Museum Antonio Salinas " You are violent and wicked, and you do not know against whom you will hurl your weapons."Īnacreon, Fragment 445 (from Himerius, Orations) : Greek Lyric II) (Greek lyric C6th B.C.) : she adorns the Erotes' wings and tresses with gold and urges them on in procession before the chariot, waving their torches in the air."Īnacreon, Fragment 445 (trans. " After the contests she goes into the bridal chamber, garlands the room and makes up the bed, then she gathers the girls into the bridal room and brings in Aphrodite herself on the Kharites' (Charites', Graces') chariot with her chorus of Erotes (Loves) to join in the fun. Sappho, Fragment 194 (from Himerius, Orations) (trans. "May I delight in the graces of Aphrodisian Erotes (Loves)." "Aphrodite the heavenly mother of Erotes (Loves)." "A little way from the topmost peak of snowy Olympos, there are their bright dancing-places and beautiful homes, and beside them the Kharites (Charites, Graces) and Himeros (Desire) live in delight." "And with her went Eros, and comely Himeros (Desire) followed her at her birth at the first and as she went into the assembly of the gods." Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) : Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.ĬLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES HIMEROS GOD OF DESIRE Eros, Himeros and Pothos, Athenian red-figure stamnos C5th B.C., British Museum He is sometimes seen in works of art representing erotic circles and in the temple of Aphrodite at Megara, he was represented by Scopas, together with Eros and Pothus. 201), where he and Eros appear as the companions of Aphrodite. HI′MERUS (Himeros), the personification of longing love, is first mentioned by Hesiod ( Theog. APHRODITE (born together with the goddess?) (perhaps suggested in Hesiod Theog 176) When paired with Eros he was perhaps identified with Anteros (Reciprocal Love). At others times he appears as one of a triad of love gods with Eros and Pothos (Love and Passion). He often appears alongside Eros in scenes of Aphrodite's birth, fluttering around the goddess as she reclines in her conch-shell bed. Himeros was depicted as winged youth or child. The pair remained her constant companions acting as agents of her divine power. Some say Aphrodite was born pregnant with the twins and birthed them as soon as she was born. When Aphrodite was born from the sea-foam's she was greeted by the twin loves Eros and Himeros. HIMEROS was the god of sexual desire and one of the Erotes, the winged gods of love. Desire, Longing, Yearning Himeros and Paris, Athenian red-figure amphora C5th B.C., Antikensammlung Berlin