Cupid and Psyche. Transformation of Femininity in the Interpretation of the Myth

The myth of Cupid and Psyche is the story of a solitary soul's wanderings in search of eternal love. Rooted in antiquity, it represents a complex blend of the oldest ideas about ideal lovers and philosophical concepts of immortal human essence, forced to obey universal laws. The figure of Psyche embodies the archetypes of the Lover (like Aphrodite), the Wife (like Hera), and the Mother (like Demeter). Psychoanalyst and follower of C.G. Jung, Erich Neumann, analyzes female psychology, interpreting the meaning of the ancient myth as the aspiration of the feminine soul—Psyche—to overcome her inherent archetypical femininity.
The edition is supplemented by an excerpt from Apuleius's novel "The Metamorphoses, or The Golden Ass" translated by M.A. Kuzmin, containing a retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche.