Reading Notes, Cupid and Psyche, Part B

I found the second part of Cupid and Psyche to be more interesting than the first. Psyche gives herself up to Venus in hope that she will get to see Cupid again, however Venus wants Psyche to prove herself first so she assigns three tasks to complete. The first task is to separate grains, chickpeas, lentils, and beans. In Cinderella, she has birds come help pick up spilled beans, however ants come to help Psyche separate the above. The second task is to obtain some wool from sheep with golden fleece. A reed warns Psyche to wait until the heat dies down, and grab the wool from the branches in the woods nearby. The third task is to capture water from the Styx and Cocytus. After completing all the tasks Psyche was sent to the Underworld to obtain beauty for Venus from Proserpine. On the way back, she opened the vial and was sent into a slumber only to be awakened by Cupid himself. This part reminds me of the story of Sleeping Beauty. After receiving permission from the gods, Psyche was made immortal and a wedding occurred.

(Wedding of Cupid and Psyche)

Bibliography: "Cupid and Psyche" from The Golden Ass written by Apuleius and translated by Tony Kline