The first appearance of Cupid was in Greek mythology around 700 B.C., long before the Romans adopted and renamed him and before he was ever associated with Valentine’s Day. Initially named Eros, the handsome god of love, later renamed by the Romans – “Cupid,” meaning passionate desire. Eros (Cupid)  was born from Venus’s deep desire and was made to spread love with a golden bow and magic arrows.

Hesiod, a Greek poet, wrote that Eros was one of the first gods, but later stories gave him a different parentage. With his bow, Cupid shot gold arrows to spark love, in some cases, and lead others to rejection – like when he shot Apollo, causing him to fall in love with Daphne, who hated the god of the sun – reinforcing the power of Cupid for both good and evil.

The oldest Valentine still in existence was written by Charles, Duke of Orleans. This particular Valentine is believed to be a love poem he wrote to his wife in 1415. Valentine’s day was not declared a holiday until Henry VIII (the 8th) declared it in 1537. Cupid’s involvement with Valentine’s day skyrocketed during the 18th and 19th century, when many people would pass around cards – supposedly “shot by” Cupid’s arrow. This tradition of passing cards around sparked a way for people to express their love in writing.

MENTALFLOSS, a digital printing/magazine site, states “Hallmark began mass-producing cards for the holiday in 1913, he became even more ubiquitous. Today, it’s nearly impossible to visit a drugstore in February without seeing the flying toddler.” 

Although Cupid is considered a “flying toddler” that was not always the image of him. Cupid used to be depicted as a handsome young man who was powerful and graceful, much like other olympian gods. Overtime Cupid was turned into a chubby flying toddler with a bow and arrow.