Reading Notes: Cupid and Psyche, Part B

Cupid and Psyche

The Wedding Feast: Story Source: Apuleius's Golden Ass, as translated into English by Tony Kline (2013).

• All of the gods were called together and they were threatened to be fined if they didn't show up to the gathering
• The god Jupiter explained to the other gods that Cupid had taken Psyche's virginity and that they needed to restrain his childish behaviors by marrying the two
• Jupiter then talked to Venus and told her to not be jealous of Psyche and ordered her to bring Psyche to heaven
• Next, Jupiter handed Psyche a cup of ambrosia and told her to drink it
• This drink made her immortal
• Jupiter told Psyche that their marriage would last forever
• Then, a huge feast appeared to celebrate the wedding of the now immortal couple
• Ganymede was the cup-bearer and served Jupiter his wine
• Bacchus-Liber served the rest of the wedding party
• Vulcan cooked the meal for the wedding
• The Hours gave everyone flowers
• Graces scattered balsam
• A choir of Muses sang
• Apollo sang
• Venus danced (she was now supportive of the wedding and had forgotten her jealousy of Psyche that started the conflict in the story)
• **essentially, all of the gods joined together and contributed to the celebration of the marriage of Psyche and Cupid
• After the wedding and once Psyche was due for the birth of her child, she gave birth to a girl who was named Pleasure
• This name is interesting and resembles the pleasure that the two sought when they fell in love

• It would be interesting to retell this story and include some dialogue between Cupid and Psyche to show more details of their wedding ceremony
• It would also be cool to include some dialogue between Venus and Psyche to see how their conflict was resolved
• The story could be developed further by adding details of the child and maybe even describe her appearance and mannerisms

(The wedding of Cupid and Psyche, Source: Wikimedia)