The asteroid Eros was discovered on August 13, 1898, by German astronomer Gustav Witt at the Urania Observatory in Berlin.It is named for the god of love from Hesiod’s Theogony. He was the son, appropriately enough of Chaos, the primeval emptiness of the universe, but later became the son of Aphrodite, goddess of sexual love and beauty, by either Zeus (the king of the gods), Ares (god of war and of battle), or Hermes (divine messenger of the gods). Frankly I think the Chaos paternity best because this young god of desire retains his tendency to be a troublemaker much like Loki in the Norse pantheon.
Read more: Asteroid Eros in Astrology
The key to Eros is he personified sexual desire in all its indignity and neediness, chafing at restraint. In a chart, as here, Eros is the key to want you want most, desire even though it maybe forbidden, but then to Eros forbidden fruit is the tastiest of all. The Romans renamed him Cupido because of his silver arrow with gold tips he used to make his conquests. Whatever it hit, fell in love immediately. He had a second set of arrows, too: their heads were blunt and tipped with lead, and they killed affection in anyone they hit., see our header shot from Tiepolo where Eros’ lead arrow makes the nymph Daphne recoil in horror from the advances of the god Apollo.
How to use Eros
Whether Eros is in a favorable aspect with benign planets, or not, look for him to upset the proverbial apple-cart. Things will not go as planned, whether better or worse.
Famous natives with Eros
- Brigadier General Chas. Adams in the twelfth house suggests his drive to assert his personality for the good was an important impetus to him.
- Ditto for Astrologer Alan Leo
- Sir Francis Bacon, also at 16 Aries, but in the eighth house, suggests his need to make a name for himself and make money doing it. (That turned out poorly btw).
- Economist George Henry had it in the second house, suggesting his need to create resources while also helping others was the impetus behind his monetary theory.
- Queen Amelia of Portugal shared Henry’s goal.
- Dorsey Syng Baker, patron of Whitman College, Washington, wanted to help create an educational system that would help people get ahead in life.
- Frank Sinatra, singer and actor, with Eros in the third, wanted to be heard.
- and finally Simone de Beauvoir, in the fifth, needed to express herself as did guitarist Eddie Van Halen.