Psyche” represents the soul’s journey of transformation.
The woman in the painting is surrounded by butterflies — the ancient symbol of the soul, since in Greek the word psyche means both “soul” and “butterfly.”
Her calm gaze and the glowing patterns around her reflect the path of inner awakening, love, and spiritual elevation.
This artwork is about a woman’s strength, her ability to love, endure, and rise into light.
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The Story of Psyche and Eros
Psyche was a mortal woman of breathtaking beauty, so beautiful that people began worshipping her instead of Aphrodite.
Angered, Aphrodite sent her son Eros, the god of love, to punish her — but Eros fell in love with Psyche himself.
He took her to his palace, visited her at night, but made her promise never to look at him.
Influenced by jealousy, Psyche broke the rule and lit a lamp to see him — discovering that her mysterious lover was the god of love.
Startled by a drop of oil, Eros fled.
Heartbroken, Psyche began her journey to win him back.
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The Trials
Aphrodite gave Psyche four impossible tasks:
1.Sort a mountain of grains — helped by ants.
2.Collect golden fleece — by waiting until the dangerous rams calmed.
3.Fetch water from a forbidden spring — helped by Zeus’s eagle.
4.Descend into the Underworld and bring a box of beauty from Persephone.
Opening the box, Psyche fell into a deep, deathlike sleep.
Eros found her, revived her, and pleaded with Zeus to make her immortal.
Zeus agreed.
Psyche became the goddess of the soul, and their love became eternal.