How Ancient Cultures Thought about LOVE and DESIRE Eros vs. Freyr vs. Hathor Explained

Hey legends, today we're diving into a tale as old as time itself, the story of love, desire. We're going to explore three fascinating deities from different cultures who each represent love in their own unique way. First up we have Eros, the mischievous Greek god of love and desire. Then we'll journey north to meet Freyr, the Norse god of love, fertility, and abundance. Finally we'll bask in the warm glow of Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of love, beauty, and motherhood. These three deities might come from different mythologies, but they all share one thing in common, when it comes to matters of the heart, yeah. So let's embark on this love-filled adventure and see how these divine beings stack up against each other. Part one, Eros, the Greek god of love and desire. Let's start our journey in ancient Greece where we meet Eros, the god of love and desire. Now you might be more familiar with his Roman counterpart Cupid, but trust me, Eros is the original love guru. Picture this, a young handsome god with a bow and arrow, flying around and causing mayhem wherever he goes. That's our boy Eros. But don't let his youthful appearance fool you. This guy is as old as time itself. In the beginning, Eros was seen as a primordial god, one of the first beings to exist in the universe. He was the force that brought order to chaos, the spark that ignited life itself. Pretty impressive for a guy who's often depicted as a chubby baby, right? But as time went on, the Greeks started to see Eros a bit differently. He became known as the son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. Talk about family pressure. Can you imagine having the goddess of love as your mom? That's like being the child of a supermodel and a relationship counselor rolled into one. Now Eros had a pretty cool job. He was responsible for making people fall in love. And how did he do this? With his trusty bow and arrows, of course. But these weren't your ordinary Eros. Oh no, these were magical Eros that could make anyone fall in love with the first person they saw after being struck. Imagine the chaos. One minute you're minding your own business, the next you're head over heels for the first person who crosses your path. It's like a cosmic version of a dating app, but with way less swiping and a lot more divine intervention. But Eros wasn't always accurate with his aim. Sometimes he'd cause people to fall in love with the wrong person, leading to all sorts of drama and heartache. It's like he was the original writer for every romantic comedy ever made. One of the most famous stories about Eros is his own love story. Ironic, isn't it? The god of love falling in love himself. It all started when Eros' mother, Aphrodite, got jealous of a mortal woman named Psyche, who was said to be even more beautiful than the goddess herself. Aphrodite, being the drama queen she was, sent Eros to make Psyche fall in love with the ugliest creature on earth. But plot twist. Eros accidentally pricked himself with his own arrow and fell madly in love with Psyche instead. Now being a god, Eros couldn't just walk up to Psyche and ask her out on a date. No, he had to make things complicated. He visited her only at night, in complete darkness, and made her promise never to try to see his face. Talk about a weird dating arrangement. Of course, curiosity got the better of Psyche, as it often does in these myths, and one night she lit a lamp to see who her mysterious lover was. Eros, feeling betrayed, flew away. But don't worry, folks. After a series of trials and tribulations, the two lovers were finally reunited and lived happily ever after. Even gods love a happy ending. This story of Eros and Psyche is more than just a cute love tale. It represents the journey of the human soul, that's what Psyche means in Greek, in its search for divine love. Deep stuff, right? But Eros wasn't all about romantic love. He was also associated with friendship and even the love between family members. In fact, the Greeks had different words for different types of love, and Eros was just one of them. There was also agape, unconditional love, philia, friendship love, and storge, familial love. Eros represented passionate, romantic love, the kind that makes your heart race and your palms sweat. In art, Eros was often depicted as a handsome young man with wings, carrying a bow and arrow. But as time went on, particularly in Roman art, he started to be portrayed as a chubby baby, the Cupid we know today. Talk about a glow down. Eros' influence wasn't limited to just making people fall in love. He was also associated with fertility and the continuation of the human race. After all, what's love without a little bit of, well, you know, the birds and the bees, as they say. In some versions of the myth, Eros had a brother named Anteros, who was the god of requited love. Together they balanced each other out. Eros ignited passion, while Anteros ensured that love was returned. It's like they were the original relationship counselors. So what can we learn from Eros? Well, for one, love can be unpredictable. It can strike when you least expect it, and sometimes with the person you least expect. But also, love requires trust and understanding. Just like Psyche had to trust Eros in the dark, sometimes we need to have faith in love, even when we can't see where it's leading us. Part Two Frere, The Norse God of Love, Fertility, and Abundance Now let's leave the warm Mediterranean and head north to the frosty lands of the Vikings. Here we meet Frere, the Norse god of love, fertility, and abundance. And let me tell you, this guy is a far cry from the chubby cherub we just left behind. Picture a tall, handsome god with golden hair and a smile that could melt the harshest Nordic winter. That's our man Frere. But don't let his good looks fool you. This god was as much about prosperity and peace as he was about love and fertility. Frere was part of the Venir, a group of gods associated with nature, fertility, and wisdom. He was the twin brother of Freya, talk about keeping it in the family. And together they were like the power couple of Norse mythology, minus the actual couple part. Because, you know, siblings. Now, Frere had some pretty cool powers. He could control the weather, making the sun shine and the rain fall. This made him a big hit with farmers, who relied on good weather for their crops. It's like he was the original weather app, but way more reliable and much better looking. But Frere wasn't just about making plants grow. He was also associated with peace and prosperity. In fact, he was so peaceful that he gave away his sword, a big deal for a Viking god, for love. Talk about putting love before war. The story goes that one day Frere sat on Odin's throne, a big no-no in the god world, and saw a beautiful giantess named Gerð. He immediately fell head over heels in love. But there was a problem. Gerð lived in Jotunheim, the land of the giants, and wasn't interested in Frere. Desperate times call for desperate measures, right? Frere sent his servant, Skirnir, to woo Gerð on his behalf. Skirnir, being a good wingman, tried everything. Bribes, threats, even curses. Finally, Gerð agreed to meet Frere. Here's where it gets interesting. To convince Skirnir to go on this dangerous mission, Frere gave him his magical sword, a weapon so powerful it could fight on its own. This sword was super important, especially since it was prophesied that Frere would need it during Ragnarok, the end of the world. But Frere didn't care about all that. He was so in love that he was willing to give up his most prized possession. It's like trading your car, house, and life savings for a date with your crush. Talk about being lovesick. This story shows us a different side of love compared to Eros. While Eros was all about instant attraction and passionate desire, Frere's love was more about sacrifice and dedication. He was willing to give up his most valuable possession and potentially his future for love. That's some serious commitment. But Frere wasn't just about romantic love. He was also associated with other types of love. The love of family, the love of community, and even self-love. In Norse society, Frere was seen as a god who brought people together, fostering harmony and prosperity. One of the coolest things about Frere was his connection to nature. He was often associated with the wild boar, a symbol of strength and fertility. In fact, one of his prized possessions was a boar named Gullinbursti, whose bristles glowed in the dark. It's like he had his own organic nightlight. Frere was also linked to ships and seafaring. He owned a magical ship called Skivblavnir, which could be folded up like a piece of cloth and carried in a pocket when not in use. Talk about convenient travel. It's like he had the world's first foldable yacht. In terms of love and fertility, Frere was the go-to god for couples wanting to start a family. People would often pray to him for healthy children and bountiful harvests. He was like a divine fertility clinic and agricultural advisor rolled into one. One of the most interesting aspects of Frere's cult was the practice of sacred marriages. In these rituals, a human would symbolically marry the god to ensure fertility and prosperity for the community. It was like a cosmic wedding, minus the expensive catering and awkward dance floor moments. Frere's influence was so great that even after Christianity came to Scandinavia, people continued to worship him in secret. There are stories of farmers keeping small figurines of Frere hidden in their barns well into the Middle Ages. Talk about brand loyalty. So what can we learn from Frere? Well, for one, love often requires sacrifice. Sometimes we have to give up something important to us for the sake of love. But also, love isn't just about romance, it's about community, family, and the world around us. Frere reminds us that love can bring prosperity and peace, not just to individuals, but to entire societies. Part 3, Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of love, beauty, and motherhood. Now let's leave the chilly north and head to the sun-baked lands of ancient Egypt. Here we meet Hathor, the goddess of love, beauty, motherhood, and so much more. And let me tell you, this lady puts the multi in multitasking. Imagine a beautiful woman with the head of a cow, or sometimes just with cow ears. I know, I know, it sounds a bit weird, but trust me, in ancient Egypt, this was the height of divine fashion. The cow symbolized motherhood and nourishment, which were big parts of Hathor's deal. Hathor was one of the most important and popular goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon. She was so beloved that she was worshipped for over 3,000 years. That's like having a pop star who stays famous from the time of ancient Rome until today. Now that's what I call staying power. But Hathor wasn't just the goddess of love. Oh no, she was a goddess of many talents. She was associated with music, dance, joy, femininity, and even foreign lands. It's like she was the original multi-hyphenate celebrity, actress, singer, dancer, influencer, but make it divine. One of Hathor's coolest titles was The Lady of the Sycamore. She was believed to live in sycamore trees, providing shade, food, and comfort to weary souls in the afterlife. Imagine a divine bed and breakfast, but it's a tree, and the hostess is a cow-headed goddess. Only in Egypt, folks. Now let's talk about Hathor and love. Unlike Eros with his mischievous arrows or Freyr with his sacrifices, Hathor represented a more nurturing, maternal kind of love. She was the patroness of lovers, but she was also there to support women through childbirth and motherhood. One of the most famous stories about Hathor shows her softer side. The story goes that Ra, the sun god, was getting old and weak. Humans, being ungrateful as we sometimes are, started to plot against him. Ra, in his anger, sent Hathor to punish humanity. But here's the twist. Hathor had an alter ego named Sekhmet, a fierce lioness goddess. When Hathor transformed into Sekhmet, she went on a rampage, slaughtering humans left and right. She got so carried away that Ra feared she might wipe out all of humanity. To stop her, Ra tricked Sekhmet by dyeing beer red to look like blood and spreading it over the fields. Sekhmet, thinking it was blood, drank it all and got so drunk she fell asleep. When she woke up, she had transformed back into the gentle Hathor. This story shows us the duality of love. It can be gentle and nurturing, but it can also be fierce and protective. Hathor reminds us that love isn't always soft and fluffy. Sometimes it has claws. But don't let this story fool you. Hathor was generally seen as a benevolent goddess. She was often called the lady of drunkenness, not because she was a party animal, though I'm sure she knew how to have a good time, but because she could intoxicate people with love and joy. Hathor was also associated with beauty and adornment. She was the patroness of cosmetics and jewelry, believed to enhance the wearer's attractiveness. Ancient Egyptian women would often wear amulets of Hathor for protection and to increase their allure. It's like having a divine makeover artist on speed dial. One of the most interesting aspects of Hathor's cult was the importance of music and dance. Priestesses of Hathor were skilled musicians and dancers, using their arts to honor the goddess and bring joy to the people. Imagine a divine concert where the performers are all priestesses and the lead singer is a cow-headed goddess. Now that's a show I'd pay to see. Hathor was also associated with the afterlife. She was believed to welcome the dead into the next world, offering them food and drink from her sycamore tree. She was like a divine hostess, making sure everyone felt at home in the great beyond. But perhaps one of Hathor's most important roles was as a goddess of motherhood. She was often depicted nursing the pharaoh, symbolizing her role as the mother of the king. This wasn't just a cute image, it was a powerful political statement, legitimizing the pharaoh's rule as divinely ordained. So what can we learn from Hathor? Well, for one, love comes in many forms. Romantic, maternal, fierce, gentle. Hathor reminds us that love is complex and multifaceted, just like she is. She also teaches us about the joy and celebration that can come with love. After all, what's love without a little music, dance, and maybe a sip of divine beer? Conclusion Eros reminds us of the unpredictable, passionate nature of love. Frere shows us that love often requires sacrifice, but that it can also bring peace and prosperity to entire communities. Hathor, with her many aspects, teaches us about the complexity of love. Together, these three deities give us a rich, nuanced picture of love. Please subscribe to support the channel, like, share, and comment your thoughts on the nature of love. You can comment the first letter of your first love. See you in the next video.