The Tale of Cupid and Psyche characters

Appears from the start

The youngest daughter of a king and queen, admired so intensely for her beauty that people neglect Venus's worship. The attention isolates her rather than bringing a marriage. After an oracle sends her to a mysterious bridegroom, her fear, curiosity, and persistence carry her through separation and a series of divine ordeals.

Appears from the start

The god of love and son of Venus. Sent to punish Psyche, he instead makes her his wife and visits her only in darkness, hiding both his identity and the marriage from his mother. He asks Psyche to trust him without seeing him.

Appears from the start

The goddess of love and beauty, angered that mortals treat Psyche as a rival object of worship. She first orders Cupid to punish the princess, then uses her divine power to oppose Psyche and impose tasks intended to be impossible.

Also known as The King

Appears from the start

Psyche's father, a king who grieves that his celebrated youngest daughter has no suitor. He consults Apollo's oracle and, believing the divine command must be obeyed, leads Psyche to the rocky place appointed for her marriage to a feared supernatural husband.

Appears from the start

One of Psyche's two married sisters. Envious of the wealth and mystery surrounding Psyche's new life, she helps turn uncertainty about the unseen husband into fear and urges Psyche to uncover and kill him.

Appears from the start

The other of Psyche's married sisters. She joins her sibling in exploiting Psyche's loneliness, insisting that the unknown bridegroom is a monster and helping devise the lamp-and-knife plan that destroys Psyche's hidden domestic happiness.

Also known as The West Wind

Appears from the start

The west wind who carries Psyche gently from the exposed mountainside to Cupid's hidden valley. At Cupid's command he also transports Psyche's sisters between the palace and the world outside.

Appears from the start

The ruler of the gods, to whom Cupid appeals after rescuing Psyche from her final mistake. He summons the divine assembly and provides the authority needed to settle the conflict with Venus and recognize the marriage.

Appears from the start

Queen of the underworld, from whom Venus demands that Psyche obtain a portion of beauty. She receives Psyche and sends back a sealed container, which Psyche has been warned not to open.