The Greek Myth of Eros and Psyche: Background information when reading The Palace of Eros

In the original Greek myth that The Palace of Eros retells, Psyche is the youngest daughter of a king and the most beautiful woman in all the land. She is mistaken for Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, and worshiped accordingly. An envious Aphrodite commands her son, Eros, to shoot Psyche with his arrows of love and make her become enamored with a hideous beast. Her plan backfires when Eros falls in love with Psyche.

When the Oracle proclaims that Psyche should be taken by a winged beast as punishment for her father's arrogance over her beauty, she is left in mourning clothes on a high cliff. But the phrase "winged beast" carries a metaphorical double meaning — it is also a reference to Eros and his "beastly" habit of making odd couples fall in love for his own amusement.

With the help of Zephyrus, a wind god, Psyche is blown away to Eros's palace of gold, marble, and jewels. She lives in luxury, served by invisible servants, but is otherwise alone, except at night when ...