PSYCHE (//vxi7)  , in Greek mythology, the personification of the human soul . The story of the love of Eros (Cupid) for Psyche is a philosophical allegory, founded upon the Platonic conception of the soul . In this connexion Psyche was represented in Greek and Graeco-Roman art as a tender maiden, with bird's or butterfly's wings, or simply as a butterfly . Sometimes she is pursued and tormented by Eros, sometimes she revenges herself upon him, sometimes she embraces him in fondest affection . The tale of Cupid and Psyche, in the Metamorphoses of Apuleius, has nothing in common with this conception but the name . In it Psyche, the youngest daughter of a king, arouses the jealousy of Venus, who orders Cupid to inspire her with love for the most despicable of men . Cupid, however, falls in love with her himself, and carries her off to a secluded spot, where he visits her by night, unseen and unrecognized by her . Persuaded by her sisters that her companion is a hideous monster, and forgetful of his warning, she lights a lamp to look upon him while he is asleep; in her ecstasy at his beauty she lets fall a drop of burning oil upon the face of Cupid, who awakes and disappears . Wandering over the earth in search of him, Psyche falls into the hands of Venus, who forces her to undertake the most difficult tasks . The last and most dangerous of these is to fetch from the world below the box containing the ointment of beauty . She secures the box, but on her way back opens it and is stupefied by the vapour . She is only restored to her senses by contact with the arrow of Cupid, at whose entreaty Jupiter makes her immortal and bestows her in marriage upon her lover .

The meaning of the allegory is obvious . Psyche, as the personification of the soul, is only permitted to enjoy her happiness so

long as she abstains from ill-advised curiosity . The desire to pry into its nature brings suffering upon her; but in the end, purified by what she has undergone, she is restored to her former condition of bliss by the mighty power of love . On this story see L . Friedlander, " Ueber das Marchen von Amor and Psyche " (in Darstellungen aus der Sittengeschichte Rams, 1888, vol. i.; for a treatment of the Greek conception, see E . Rohde, Psyche, 1894) . For Psyche in art see A . Conze, De Psyches imaginibus quibusdam (1855); Max Collignon, Essai sur les monuments grecs et romains relatifs au mythe de Psyche (1877) .