Editing Angels in art (section)

=== Ancient Greece ===
Ancient Greek mythology has been an integral part of art, serving as an inspiration to a large number of concepts in art. The culture had a winged figure, Ero, the son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who became Cupid in the Roman Empire<ref name=":3a" />

The Greek mythology associates [[Erotes]] with love and desire. While they are perceived as heavenly creatures, they contain power that can make a person fall in love based on their enchantments.<ref name=":0a">{{Cite web |last=St. James's Ancient Art |date=September 18, 2019 |title=Eros' Iconography in Classical Times: Amor Vincit Omnia |url=https://www.ancient-art.co.uk/eros-iconography-in-classical-times-amor-vincit-omnia/ |access-date=April 16, 2024 |website=St. James's Ancient Art |archive-date=May 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518031654/https://www.ancient-art.co.uk/eros-iconography-in-classical-times-amor-vincit-omnia/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The majority of ancient artwork portrayed Eros as being a slender yet well-built man wielding enormous sexual power. While Eros was not a popular figure in the classical period, the arrival of the Hellenistic period raised him back to prominence. The popularization of [[Erotes]] arises from the normalization of the Roman counterpart, Cupid, who has a bow and arrow that he uses to make people fall in love.<ref name=":1a">{{Cite web |title=Eros: More Than Just Cupid – My Class: Gods and Heroes of Classical Mythology – HSA020C132H 2017-18 |url=https://eportfolios.roehampton.ac.uk/hsa020c132h/2018/06/30/eros-more-than-just-cupid/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=eportfolios.roehampton.ac.uk}}</ref> The majority of people who observe Valentines Day have or utilize stories related to Cupid and Eros.<ref name=":2a">{{Cite magazine |date=2019-02-13 |title=Cherubic Cupid Is Everywhere on Valentine's Day. Here's Why That Famous Embodiment of Desire Is a Child |url=https://time.com/5516579/history-cupid-valentines-day/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |magazine=Time |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Eros bow Musei Capitolini MC410.jpg|center|thumb|Eros bow Musei Capitolini MC410]]

The classical ''[[erotes]]'' or ''[[putto]]'' re-appeared in art during the [[Italian Renaissance]] in both religious and mythological art, and is often known in English as a [[cherub]], the singular of cherubim, actually one of the higher ranks in the [[Christian angelic hierarchy]].  They normally appear in groups and are generally given wings in religious art, and are sometimes represented as just a winged head.  They generally are just in attendance, except that they may be amusing Christ or [[John the Baptist]] as infants in scenes of the [[Holy Family]]

[[File:ANGELICO, Fra Annunciation, 1437-46 (2236990916).jpg|thumb|left|Fra Angelico, ''[[Annunciation (Fra Angelico, San Marco)|The Annunciation]]'', 1437–1446]]

The Greek mythology associates [[Erotes]] with love and desire. While they are perceived as heavenly creatures, they contain power that can make a person fall in love based on their enchantments.<ref name=":0a" /> According to Greek mythology, Eros was associated with Gaia, mother earth goddess.

The majority of ancient artwork portrayed Eros as being a slender yet well-built man wielding enormous sexual power. While Eros was not a popular figure in the classical period, the arrival of the Hellenistic period raised him back to prominence. The popularization of [[Erotes]] arises from the normalization of the Roman counterpart, Cupid, who has a bow and arrow that he uses to make people fall in love.<ref name=":1a" /> The majority of people who observe Valentines Day have or utilize stories related to Cupid and Eros.<ref name=":2a" /> Eros or Cupid uses his arrow to manipulate people through the power of love, making his role as a god an intriguing one.