The religions of ancient Greece and Rome are extinct. The so-called divinities of Olympus have not a single worshipper among living men. They belong now not to the department of theology, but to those of literature and taste. There they still hold their place, and will continue to hold it, for they are too closely connected with the finest productions of poetry and art, both ancient and modern, to pass into oblivion.

Yet, one god, a minor god in Olympus, persist in remaining present in modern society. This god remains one of the favorite symbols of love and St. Valentine's Day. His name is Cupid. Knowledge of his name, his winged form and his bow and arrows are commonplace.

Cupid (Eros in Greek), the mischievous and winged god of love, was the son of Venus (Aphrodite in Greek). He was her constant companion; and, armed with bow and arrows, he shot the arrows of desire into the bosoms of both gods and men.

Wrongly, he is preceived to be angel-like. This is due to the Christianization of a number of Roman and Greek myths during the third and fourth century A.D. Cupid was not always childlike. After the birth of his brother Anteros, he rapidly grew to become a winged man. He later married Psyche and they produced a child named Pleasure. Secondly, Cupid's personality was anything but angelic. He was quite mischievous and many of his deeds resulted in tragic endings for his victims.