Cupid tattoos are typically associated with love, desire, or romance. A tattoo of Cupid can also be part of a larger piece that is inspired by classical or Roman art.
In this article, we’ll look at the various meanings a Cupid tattoo may have for people.
Who is Cupid?
Cupid is a figure from classical mythology. He is known as the god of affection, attraction, desire, and love. Cupid is the son of Venus, the goddess of love. It is unclear who Cupid’s father was. Some state that it was Mars, the god of war, while others believe that Mercury, the messenger of the gods, fathered Cupid.
The name Cupid comes from the Latin word cupido, which means passionate desire. It is believed that the person who is shot by Cupid’s arrow will be full of desire and love. Cupid is thought to have been adapted from Eros, the Greek god.
Eros was the god of love, who was the child of Ares and Aphrodite. Ares was the Greek god of courage and war, while Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love, beauty, passion, pleasure, lust, and procreation.
Images of Cupid
Cupid is usually depicted as a naked young boy with wings. He is typically holding his bow and arrow, sometimes in the act of shooting it. Images of Cupid are common in classical Western art as well as Roman art.
It was during the Hellenistic Period (323 BCE to 33 BCE) that Cupid was illustrated with a chubby body and face, along with a bow and arrow.
One famous piece of art that includes Cupid is Lorenzo Lotto’s painting entitled Venus and Cupid. Lotto was an Italian painter who created this work during the 1500s. This artwork is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Another famous artwork, entitled Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss, is a sculpture that was completed in the late 1700s. This work was done by Antonio Canova, an Italian artist, and shows Cupid holding his lover as she reaches up to him.
Cupid Tattoos
The majority of Cupid tattoos are done in black and white and feature a single Cupid. He is almost always depicted with wings and a bow and arrow. It is common for these tattoos to show Cupid pulling back his bow and getting ready to shoot.
Cupid tattoos range in size from small to large. Many are on the smaller side, though larger pieces have been done on the back or thigh. Cupid tattoos tend to be most common among women.
Valentine’s Day
The celebration of Valentine’s Day on February 14th is often associated with Cupid. This holiday began as a feast day in the Christian religion. However, it is now commonly connected with love and romance. Many Valentine’s Day greeting cards, decorations, clothing, and household items feature images of Cupid.
A person may choose to get a tattoo of Cupid to represent their enjoyment of this holiday. For some, Valentine’s Day is the perfect symbol of their experience with love and celebrates the relationship in their life. Many people have memories of romantic experiences that occurred on this day and some celebrate anniversaries on Valentine’s Day as well.
Sleeping Cupid
Some tattoos feature Cupid reclined on his back and sleeping. The painting by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, entitled Sleeping Cupid, was completed in the early 1600s. This piece of art was done to remind people of their vow of chastity.
A tattoo of a sleeping Cupid can be representative of absent love. The person with this tattoo may have experienced a relationship loss or may be wishing for love that they don’t currently have. It can be symbolic of the person’s desire for love in their life and hope that they will find the right person for them.
This tattoo can also symbolize giving up all earthly desires. Since the image of sleeping Cupid generally shows him without his bow and arrows, it represents going without these things. A person who chooses a Cupid tattoo for these reasons may want to illustrate their ability to live without frivolities and luxuries.
Romance and Music
Cupid is generally symbolic of romance and love. A person who opts for a tattoo of Cupid may be a true romantic at heart. They may want this tattoo to symbolize their feelings about love and relationships as well as their belief that love conquers all.
The Cupid tattoo may be chosen based on the relationship the person is currently in, or it can be symbolic of love in more general terms. Some musical artists used Cupid in their songs to represent love and romance.
Sam Cooke, an American singer and songwriter, released a song called Cupid in 1961. This R;B hit was later covered by Johnny Nash, The Supremes, and The Spinners. In more recent years, both Amy Winehouse and Boyz II Men covered the song Cupid.
Cupid and a Heart
Some tattoos of Cupid include an image of a heart. Cupid’s arrow may be illustrated as ready to shoot into the heart, or it may be shown with the arrow already piercing the heart. Often the heart in these tattoos is done in the color red, while the remainder of the tattoo is in black and white.
Choosing a tattoo with Cupid and a heart is representative of that person’s experience with or desire for love. It shows that their heart has been touched by love in the past or that they hope for that experience of love and romance in the future.
Cupid (Bryson Bernard)
Bryson Bernard is an American singer-songwriter who goes by the stage name Cupid. His 2007 single entitled Cupid Shuffle was a popular R&B song in the United States. The song even inspired a line dance that set the Guinness World Record with 17,000 people participating.
A person may choose a Cupid tattoo to display their enjoyment of this song in particular or of the artist in general.