Cupid vs. Angel

Main Difference

The main difference between Cupid and Angel is that the Cupid is a god of desire, affection and erotic love, often portrayed as the son of Venus and Mars and Angel is a supernatural being or spirit in certain religions and mythologies

• Cupid

  In classical mythology, Cupid (Latin Cupīdō [kʊˈpiː.doː], meaning “desire”) is the god of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection. He is often portrayed as the son of the love goddess Venus and the war god Mars. He is also known in Latin as Amor (“Love”). His Greek counterpart is Eros.

  Although Eros is generally portrayed as a slender winged youth in Classical Greek art, during the Hellenistic period, he was increasingly portrayed as a chubby boy. During this time, his iconography acquired the bow and arrow that represent his source of power: a person, or even a deity, who is shot by Cupid’s arrow is filled with uncontrollable desire. In myths, Cupid is a minor character who serves mostly to set the plot in motion. He is a main character only in the tale of Cupid and Psyche, when wounded by his own weapons, he experiences the ordeal of love. Although other extended stories are not told about him, his tradition is rich in poetic themes and visual scenarios, such as “Love conquers all” and the retaliatory punishment or torture of Cupid.

  In art, Cupid often appears in multiples as the Amores, or amorini in the later terminology of art history, the equivalent of the Greek erotes. Cupids are a frequent motif of both Roman art and later Western art of the classical tradition. In the 15th century, the iconography of Cupid starts to become indistinguishable from the putto.

  Cupid continued to be a popular figure in the Middle Ages, when under Christian influence he often had a dual nature as Heavenly and Earthly love. In the Renaissance, a renewed interest in classical philosophy endowed him with complex allegorical meanings. In contemporary popular culture, Cupid is shown drawing his bow to inspire romantic love, often as an icon of Valentine’s Day.

• Angel

  An angel is generally a supernatural being found in various religions and mythologies. In Abrahamic religions, angels are often depicted as benevolent celestial beings who act as intermediaries between God or Heaven and humanity. Other roles of angels include protecting and guiding human beings, and carrying out God’s tasks. Within Abrahamic religions, angels are often organized into hierarchies, although such rankings may vary between sects in each religion. Such angels are given specific names or titles, such as Gabriel or Michael. The term “angel” has also been expanded to various notions of spirits or figures found in other religious traditions. The theological study of angels is known as “angelology.” Angels who were expelled from Heaven are referred to as fallen angels.

  In fine art, angels are usually depicted as having the shape of human beings of extraordinary beauty but no gender (until the 19th century at least). They are often identified with symbols of bird wings, halos, and light.

• Angel (noun)

  a spiritual being believed to act as an attendant, agent, or messenger of God, conventionally represented in human form with wings and a long robe

  “the Angel of Death”

  “God sent an angel to talk to Gideon”

• Angel (noun)

  an attendant spirit, especially a benevolent one

  “there was an angel watching over me”

• Angel (noun)

  (in traditional Christian angelology) a being of the lowest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy.

• Angel (noun)

  short for Hells Angel

• Angel (noun)

  a person of exemplary conduct or virtue

  “their parents think they are angels”

  “I know I’m no angel”

• Angel (noun)

  used in similes or comparisons to refer to a person’s outstanding beauty, qualities, or abilities

  “you sang like an angel”

• Angel (noun)

  used in approval to a person who is kind or helpful

  “be an angel and let us come in”

• Angel (noun)

  used as a term of endearment

  “I miss you too, angel”

• Angel (noun)

  a person who supports a business financially, typically one who invests private capital in a small or newly established enterprise

  “the longer it takes you to get your product into the marketplace, the longer it will be until the angels get their money back”

• Angel (noun)

  a financial backer of a theatrical production

  “every year we raise the money for the next season and we are always looking for an angel”

• Angel (noun)

  a former English coin minted between the reigns of Edward IV and Charles I and bearing the figure of the archangel Michael killing a dragon.

• Angel (noun)

  an aircraft’s altitude (often used with a numeral indicating thousands of feet)

  “we rendezvous at angels nine”

• Angel (noun)

  an unexplained radar echo.