Anteros

Accounts vary: in some traditions Anteros is presented within the Olympian love-theogony as a companion or brother to Eros produced to animate reciprocal love; Porphyry (via later summaries) relates that Themis advised Aphrodite to give Eros a brother, and Aphrodite 'gave birth to Anteros,' whose presence causes Eros to grow. Alternative or variant traditions present Anteros as arising from other divine mutual loves (an account links his coming to the mutual love of Poseidon and the sea-nymph Nerites). The supplied material does not privilege a single parentage across all sources.

Classical descriptions portray Anteros as a small winged youth closely resembling Eros: a winged boy with long hair and plumed wings. Iconographic notes indicate he is often shown in the company of Aphrodite and her attendants. Variant descriptions also record him as described in some sources as armed with either a golden club or arrows of lead.

Mythic role and behaviors attributed to Anteros are largely personificatory: he embodies requited or 'counter-' love, is described as causing love to be reciprocated or as the divine principle that corresponds to another's affection, and functions as an avenger or punisher of those who scorn love or cruelly reject advances. In one mythic motif his presence is necessary for Eros's enlargement (Eros 'grew' when Anteros was near and 'shrank' when he was absent). These descriptions are presented as mythic/personified functions rather than as technical magical mechanics.