The Relationship between Love and Sex in Greek Mythology Essay Example

very attractive sexual body. He is the god of fertility and sexual desires among the Greeks (Lad, 2000).

The Greeks associated roses with romance and had a goddess of flowers named Chloris. They believed that beautiful roses came from her lips as she breathed (Spirko, 2010). One of the Greek myths tells that Zephyrus, god of the wind, loved Chloris and forcefully married her, giving gave her an authority over the flowers as a marriage present (2010). Such an association of flowers with love is given more meaning in the myths about Aphrodite (goddess of love), where she gives roses to Cupid, her son. The Greeks also equated flowers with fertility. They held fertility festivals where rose petals and garlands of roses symbollized the innocent sexuality of the lost Golden age (Spirko, 2009).

Medieval Europeans retained the ancient love to roses by growing them in their gardens (Spirko, 2010). The flowers have come to be associated with love and a holiday which was celebrated on February 14th, the Valentine’s Day of love. The Victorian period witnessed a rise in popular literature works on specific virtues which symbolized flowers and love. It demonstrates a deep connection between love and sexuality. The best example is described in the myth about Eros and Psyche, which praises the importance of intimacy and trust (Dempsey, n.d.).

The Greek mythology shows a strong connection between love and sex with little regard on whether it was heterosexual or homosexual intimacy (Gilbert, 2010). There is a close relationship between love, sex and religion as is depicted in most of Greek myths. There are such symbols of love as flowers, and love poems of that period

are valuable in the contemporary world. The issues of sex as a form of intimacy between lovers which are depicted in the Greek myths are an inspiration for people to engage in truthful and safe relationships.