Cupid: A Brief History

By Brenda Barrios

On February 14, people all over the world celebrate Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is a day when you express love to the people around you. For example, you can give them a card with Cupid on it or even some roses, but today we won't be talking about Valentine’s Day gifts.  Instead, we’ll be talking about Cupid, an endearing symbol of Valentine’s Day. 

If you don’t already know who Cupid is, Cupid is the son of Venus, the goddess of love traced back to 700 BC from ancient Rome. He has the power to make people fall in love with each other. If he shoots you with his arrows, you will fall in love with someone. According to Ovid, a Roman poet, he also has another arrow that can make people not fall in love with each other. Cupid is mostly portrayed as a winged infant carrying a bow and quiver, sometimes wearing armor like that of Mars, the god of war. Although some literature portrayed Cupid as careless, he was generally viewed as beneficent, on account of the happiness he does for couples both mortal and immortal. 

To celebrate Valentine's Day, the Hope from the Heart club sold roses starting from $3 for 1 rose and $25 for 12 roses. All the money collected went to support breast cancer awareness. Hope from the Heart meets every Tuesday in room 360 B. They hold fun events to help raise money for breast cancer charities. For more information you can visit their Instagram page: @hope.from.the.heart.