When Love Was a Bolt from Olympus: Tackling a Mythological Crossword Clue
Ah, the crossword puzzle. That daily mental workout, that linguistic labyrinth, that glorious exercise in obscure trivia and lateral thinking. And what’s not to love? It sharpens the mind, expands vocabulary, and, let’s be honest, provides a quiet moment of smug satisfaction upon completion.
Today’s clue dips into the wellspring of human storytelling: mythology. Specifically, we’re venturing into the realm of the ancient Greeks. A pantheon overflowing with gods, goddesses, heroes, monsters, and enough epic drama to fuel millennia of artistic inspiration.
The clue is:
Cupid, to ancient Greeks.
Now, even if you’re not a classics scholar, the name Cupid likely rings a bell. He’s the chubby cherub with a bow and arrow, forever flitting about, causing unsuspecting mortals (and immortals) to fall head-over-heels in love (or lust, depending on the target and the aim). Valentine’s Day wouldn’t be the same without him, and his image adorns everything from greeting cards to heart-shaped candy boxes.
But Cupid is, essentially, the Roman interpretation of a much older, more complex figure. The Romans, masters of assimilation that they were, adopted and adapted Greek mythology, often renaming the deities to fit their own cultural context. Think Zeus becoming Jupiter, or Hera morphing into Juno.
Therefore, to crack this crossword clue, we need to peel back the Roman veneer and delve into the origins of this arrow-slinging deity. We need to consider the Greek conception of love, desire, and attraction. We have to explore the narratives surrounding the god (or goddess) who embodied these potent forces.
Think about what the ancient Greeks valued. Consider their philosophical musings on love. Was it always a gentle, romantic affair? Or could it be a more primal, even dangerous force? And, crucially, what name did they bestow upon the entity that governed these powerful emotions?
Solving this crossword clue requires a small journey back in time, a brief exploration of the Greek imagination. Forget the cherubic image plastered across modern advertisements. Instead, conjure up images of Mount Olympus, of passionate affairs, of divine interventions, and of the ancient words used to describe the very essence of love.
The answer, of course, lies within the vast tapestry of Greek mythology. So grab your thinking cap, dust off your knowledge of the classics, and prepare to unlock the secrets of this ancient crossword clue. The answer, as they say, is waiting to be discovered. Happy puzzling!
Available Answers:
EROS.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: 0728-25 NY Times Crossword 28 Jul 25, Monday