Collectionlove
Gods of Love
Deities who govern passion, desire, beauty, and the bonds between hearts. Their influence shapes mortal and divine relationships alike.
Across traditions
The figures
They share a theme; their roles, beliefs and histories differ from one tradition to the next.
Greek PantheonAphroditeIllustrationGoddess of love, beauty, and desire.
Roman PantheonVenusIllustrationGoddess of love, beauty, desire, sex, and fertility.
Norse PantheonFreyjaIllustrationMost renowned of the Vanir, goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, but also associated with war and death.
Celtic PantheonAengus ÓgIllustrationThe ever-young god of love and poetic inspiration, whose kisses become birds that hover around young lovers' heads, whispering sweet nothings.
Egyptian PantheonBastetIllustrationGoddess of home, fertility, and protection.
Egyptian PantheonHathorIllustrationGoddess of love, beauty, music, and motherhood.
Hindu PantheonLakshmiIllustrationGoddess of wealth, fortune, prosperity, and beauty.
Aztec PantheonXochiquetzalIllustrationThe goddess of beauty, love, flowers, and female sexuality.
The stories
Cupid and PsycheRoman PantheonA mortal princess so beautiful that Venus grew jealous sent her son Cupid to punish her. Instead, Cupid fell in love. After betraying his trust and losing him, Psyche undertook impossible tasks set by Venus to win back her divine husband and gain immortality.
Orpheus in the UnderworldGreek PantheonThe legendary musician Orpheus descends to the realm of the dead to rescue his beloved wife Eurydice, moving even the gods of the Underworld with his song, only to lose her at the final moment.
About this collection
By Elizabeth Stein for Mythos Atlas. About the author. Editorial notes are grounded in the site's cited sources and can be challenged through the contact page.
Collections group figures and myths by a shared theme. A shared theme is an editorial lens, not evidence that the traditions borrowed from one another.