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7 - Postlude: The sacred marriage

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 July 2010

Gisela Labouvie-Vief
Affiliation:
Wayne State University
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Summary

As Psyche lay in her deathlike sleep, Eros was recovering from his wound. Now healed, he was unable to endure the separation from his bride; and so he slipped through the window of his chamber, and flew to Psyche to rise her from her sleep. He then flew to Zeus and pleaded with the God to have mercy on Psyche, to make her immortal, and to let her come live with him in the heavens. Zeus had pity on Eros, and turning to Aphrodite, he said: “Do not be downcast, for this marriage will be worthy of your son.” He then ordered Hermes to bring Psyche to Olympus. When Psyche arrived, he told her: “Psyche, drink of this ambrosia and be immortal. Then Eros shall never leave your arms, and your marriage shall endure forever.”

So it happened that Psyche became Eros' bride, and soon a daughter was born to them: she was given the name of Pleasure.

A DIVINE UNION

The myth concludes with Psyche's travails being rewarded when Zeus admits her to Mount Olympus, where she is raised to the status of a goddess and joins her divine husband in a sacred marriage. In ancient times, the sacred or divine marriage (Greek: hieros gamos) was a powerful symbol, enacted in story, art, and ritual. It indicated to individuals that the events were based on a proper balance of elements. In Egypt, for example, male royal authority was recognized only if it was properly empowered by a feminine principle in the form of a goddess, as in the marriage of Isis and Osiris.

Type
Chapter
Information
Psyche and Eros
Mind and Gender in the Life Course
, pp. 253 - 270
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 1994

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