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Supernatural lore: Where do cupids come from?

By Alexandria Ingham

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 18: A face mask is placed on the statue of Eros in Piccadilly Circus by Greenpeace protesters on April 18, 2016 in London, England. The demonstration was to highlight air pollution in Britain and targeted other statues in the city including Queen Victoria opposite Buckingham Palace, Nelson's Column and Eros at Piccadilly Circus. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 18: A face mask is placed on the statue of Eros in Piccadilly Circus by Greenpeace protesters on April 18, 2016 in London, England. The demonstration was to highlight air pollution in Britain and targeted other statues in the city including Queen Victoria opposite Buckingham Palace, Nelson's Column and Eros at Piccadilly Circus. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) /
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Supernatural lore is diverse and deep. Cupids were introduced in the fifth season, with Castiel explaining they’re a type of angel. Just where does this idea come from and what are cupids in real lore?

Real and Supernatural lore often mixes but there are also usually some major differences. Whether it’s twists to an urban legend or the combination of different mythology to create something fresh and exciting, the show has tried to use something new. That’s the case with cupid lore.

In the fifth season, the cupid was introduced. They’re a type of angel — and definitely no incontinent! — with a very interesting, unlikable handshake. Just what is the show’s lore and how does it connect to real mythology?

Cupids in Supernatural

More from Supernatural

In the series, a cupid is a type of angel. More specifically, the cupid is the third class of cherubim, a low-ranking angel and it looks like other angels don’t really like them. They’re sometimes given orders directly from Heaven, but that’s not always the case. John and Mary Winchester were an assignment to ensure Dean and Sam were born to bring on the apocalypse.

Hundreds of cupids are stationed on Earth, focused on ensuring specific bloodlines happen or continue. Unlike other angels, cupids are cheerful and affectionate. While the one we saw was a naked man, they don’t wear diapers like we seem to believe from real mythology — Castiel makes a point in saying that they’re not incontinent.

Their handshake is a hug. It’s uncomfortable and nobody likes it, but the cupids don’t seem to care. However, they are easily saddened by people’s words. Dean managed to annoy one in the fifth season and in the ninth season, one wanted revenge against Metatron and Castiel for the expulsion from Heaven.

Cupids are immortal and invisible. They have the power to make people fall in love, manipulating emotions and feelings if needs be. This is something one had to do for the Winchesters, as John and Mary initially hated each other. The bow is usually used for this, which is actually a black mark on the hands.

Cupid and Eros
Eros Goes Into Protective Retirement, Tonight the crowds of revellers will swarm to piccadilly Circus to see out the old year and welcome the new, and today, wooden hordings were being erected around the statue of Eros to protect it from any over-ambitious climbers. : The protective boards being erected around the statue of Eros at Piccadilly Circus. FOX PHOTOS 31st Dec, 1951. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) /

Real mythology about cupids

Where does the idea of a cupid come from? Well, the mythology for “Cupid” dates back to the Ancient Romans. Yet, there is an earlier iteration. The Ancient Greeks had Eros. Mentions of Eros have developed over the years. At first, he was one of the primeval cosmogonic deities from the egg of the world, but later he was the son of Erebus and Nyx. In some cases, he’s the son of Ares and Aphrodite, of Zeus and Aphrodite, and even of Zephyrus and Iris.

The idea of Zeus is a little icky. Zeus was Aphrodite’s father, making Zeus Eros’ father and grandfather, according to History. Let’s not go down that route!

Eros is where the use of a bow and arrow came from. He would strike the hearts of both mortals and gods, playing with emotions and arouse desire. Eros would also have the ability to make people fall out of love and had arrows of lead that would cause aversion. One story that was adopted by the Roman authors stated that Cupid made Apollo fall in love with a nymph called Daphne, but then made Daphne repulsed by Apollo. That’s just mean!

Rather than angels, Eros and Cupid are deities of their pagan systems. It’s not surprising that they were turned into types of angels for the sake of the Christian-based storyline in Supernatural.

Next. Wraith lore: Supernatural vs. real mythology. dark

What did you know about cupids and Supernatural lore? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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