According to a new book, Eros, the Greek god of love, was transgender.
In an innovative and surely controversial reinterpretation of the popular ancient Greek myth of Eros and Psyche, American author Caro de Robertis decided to depict the ancient Greek god of love and desire, Eros, as a character who was trans and genderfluid.
This happened in her new book titled ”The Palace of Eros”.
This groundbreaking approach to this myth tries to draw a line of connection between today’s trans and queer urban tales and the well-known and timeless story of Eros and Psyche. This fresh literary approach attempts to present us with a fresh and controversial perspective on issues such as gender and sexuality in Greek mythology.
Eros seen under a new, transgender perspective
In this new novel, Eros is not simply the god we are all familiar with. Eros becomes a character who embraces constant change, demonstrating many faces in terms of physical appearance and gender identity.
When Psyche first meets Eros in the darkness, she exclaims that her husband ”is a woman”. Eros, in this myth, has the extraordinary ability to grow male genitalia when needed. This shows the power of clear flexibility and adaptation to the moment.
Rewriting myths with transgender and queer lenses
This is not the first time the transgender and queer communities have tried to insert innovative perspectives into old and well-established stories. By doing this, the author brings back to the public debate issues of sexual orientation and gender identity that have been considered controversial for way too long.
”The Palace of Eros” deals exceptionally well with topics of homosexual intimacy and love. By following the journey of Psyche towards self-acknowledgement and liberation, the tale of de Robertis tries to shed light on the ways the human soul shapes one’s character and at the same time challenges long-established societal norms that once seemed to be universal truths.
The book is an attempt to celebrate the beauty and joy of homosexual love, presenting it as a source of good, a power that brings about change and beauty into a world filled with oppression and sadness.
Based on what we know so far about ancient Greece, gender dysphoria was not understood in the way we comprehend it today. However, there is a large number of cases where the gender of certain characters would be transformed in Greek myths.
Prominent examples of this include characters like Caeneus, who was granted a wish by Poseidon to become a man. Another example was Tiresias, who experienced multiple sex changes over a period of several years.