# Venus — The Golden Ass character guide

> Venus in The Golden Ass by Apuleius.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** very Venus, new Venus

**First appearance:** 0011-v

## Snapshot

Goddess of love who cannot bear a mortal rival to her beauty, and sets her winged son to punish the girl the crowds call Venus.

## Who they are

Venus rules the world's desire until a king's daughter, Psyche, begins receiving the garlands and prayers meant for her; the insult curdles into a rage she cannot temper. She is not a distant Olympian but a jealous proprietor of her own name, and she arms Cupid with a mother's plea and a specific cruelty: let the girl love the most wretched creature alive. Her persecution sets the whole tale in motion, turning Psyche's beauty from a blessing into a sentence.

## Relationships

### [Psyche](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/psyche)

_rivalry_

Venus, jealous of Psyche's beauty, persecutes her with cruel tasks and relentless hostility.

### [Cupid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/cupid)

_family_

Cupid is Venus's son, but their relationship is fraught with conflict due to his defiance of her orders regarding Psyche.

### [Mercury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/mercury)

_professional_

Mercury acts as Venus's herald, proclaiming a reward for the capture of the runaway Psyche.

### [Jupiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/jupiter)

_family_

Jupiter and Venus are father and daughter, and he ultimately overrules her wrath to bless Cupid and Psyche's union.

### [Jupiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/jupiter)

_family_

Jupiter and Venus are father and daughter, and he ultimately overrules her wrath to bless Cupid and Psyche's union.

## In the story

### [The Marriage of Cupid and Psyche](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_golden_ass_se/chapters/the-marriage-of-cupid-and-psyche)

The goddess of love, mother of Cupid, who eventually reconciles with Psyche.

### [Chapter XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_golden_ass_se/chapters/xxii)

Venus is furious at Cupid's love for Psyche and seeks revenge, refusing to be pacified by the other gods.

### [Book VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_golden_ass_se/chapters/book-vi)

Venus, enraged by Psyche's beauty and Cupid's love, subjects Psyche to harsh labors and seeks to destroy her.

### [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_golden_ass_se/chapters/xliv)

Mentioned in the phrase 'a scholar of Venus’ court' to describe someone who would recognize the signs of love.

### [XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_golden_ass_se/chapters/xlvi)

Referenced in the judgment of Paris story within the chapter, where she is pleased with the outcome.

### [XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_golden_ass_se/chapters/xlvii)

Mentioned as a possible form of the goddess in Lucius's prayer.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/venus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_golden_ass_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters