Abstract:
This thesis is an investigation into the character of the god Eros in Archaic and Classical Greece and what role he plays as a god. First, an enquiry is made into the early historical use of the word ἔρως through the epic tradition in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, attempting to discover how a non-personified ἔρως developed into the god Eros. Through cosmogonic literature, both Greek and Near-Eastern, the need for a deity representing the creative aspect then is addressed and compared to the Eros in Hesiod’s Theogony. Eros’ wide range of parentages given to him by the poets are discussed and analysed as a means of recreating him as an anthropomorphic god. Various references to Eros in archaic lyric poetry are used to examine his changing nature before he is depicted in Old Comedy and Tragedy in classical Athens. Evidence of cult worship of Eros in Athens and Thespiae is discussed to attempt to interpret what aspect of Eros was worshipped in a specific place and to discover if this demonstrated anything different from evidence in literature about how the Greeks viewed Eros. Other sites that Pausanias and Athenaeus describe having elements of worship to Eros are then discussed. From here, Eros’ depiction on Athenian vase-painting from ca. 600-300 BC is discussed in depth, in reference to the catalogue of 1121 Athenian vases compiled for this project that were used for comparison. The plural Erotes that are grouped on some Athenian vases are analysed to determine whether or not they can be seen as independent of Eros with specific regard to vases where an Erotes’ name is inscribed on the vase. Eros’ role in vase scenes depicting immortals and in scenes from mythology is examined in comparison to scenes where the other figures are or represent people in their contemporary society. Finally a brief look is given into Eros’ presence on major architectural works and the famous statues at Thespiae.