in pagan mythology, the god of love. There seem to have been two Cupids; one the son of Jupiter and Venus, whose delight it was to raise sentiments of love and virtue; and the other the son of Mars and the same goddess, who inspired base and impure desires. The first of these, called Eros, or true love, bore golden arrows, which caused real joy, and a virtuous affection; the other, called Anteros, had leaden arrows that raised a passion founded only on desire, which ended in satiety and disgust. Cupid was always drawn with wings, to represent his inconstancy; and naked, to show that he has nothing of his own. He was painted blind, to denote that love sees no fault in the object beloved; and with a bow and quiver of arrows, to show his power over the mind. Sometimes he is placed between Hercules and Mercury, to show the prevalence of eloquence and valour in love; and at others is placed near Fortune, to signify that the success of lovers depends on that inconstant goddess. Sometimes he is represented with an helmet on his head and a spear on his shoulder, to signify that love disarms the fiercest men; he rides upon the backs of panthers and lions, and uses their manes for a bridle, to denote that love tames the most savage beasts. He is likewise pictured riding upon a dolphin, to signify that his empire extends over the sea no less than the land.