The Romans also played on both, or rather didn't separate them: Cupid was
also Amor--Love, in for example the story of Amor and Psyche in Apuleius.
In French, as well, Cupide is often Amour.
I don't have an OED available, but I'm guessing that the common usage of
Eros in English is pretty recent. I also remember frequent use in Middle
English and Elizabethan poetry of Love in this sense--for instance, in
Chaucer's translation of the Roman de la Rose.
Robin, are you there? It would be nice to hear from someone who unlike me
actually knows something (and has the necessary books).
Mark
At 03:43 AM 1/16/2005, you wrote:
>On 16/1/05 7:14 PM, "Mark Weiss" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > If I'm not mistaken, eros in Greek is an ordinary word meaning erotic love,
> > and to a Greek ear Eros the god is simply the god Love, in which case
> > translating Eros as Eros is anachronistic.
>
>I assumed something like that was behind Economou's choice to translate it
>as "love". But also, the painting of Eros, the lovely boy god, is a
>standard European trope. I suppose te original was able to play on both
>meanings more directly...
>
>Best
>
>A
>
>
>Alison Croggon
>
>Blog: http://theatrenotes.blogspot.com
>Editor, Masthead: http://masthead.net.au
>Home page: http://alisoncroggon.com
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