Cupid and Psyche

The story begins with Psyche, a mortal woman so beautiful that people start worshipping her instead of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. Jealous, Venus sends her son, Cupid, to make Psyche fall in love with a hideous man. However, Cupid accidentally scratches himself with his own arrow and falls in love with Psyche. Psyche’s parents, worried that no mortal man is worthy of her beauty, consult an oracle, which tells them to leave her on a mountaintop to marry a mysterious husband.

Psyche is carried by the wind to a magnificent palace where she is cared for by invisible servants and meets her unseen husband each night. She is happy but forbidden from trying to see his face. Overcome by curiosity and influenced by her jealous sisters, Psyche lights a lamp to look at Cupid while he sleeps, accidentally burning him. Cupid flees, heartbroken, and Psyche must undergo a series of impossible tasks set by Venus to prove her love and worthiness.

With determination, courage, and help from gods and magical creatures, Psyche completes all the tasks. Her devotion and perseverance impress the gods, and Jupiter grants her immortality so she can live forever with Cupid. The story ends with Psyche and Cupid reunited, married, and living happily as equals, showing the triumph of love, trust, and loyalty.

The tale highlights themes of love, jealousy, trust, perseverance, and the rewards of courage, and it also explores the human struggle to achieve happiness and divine favor.