In Greek mythology, Psyche was the most beautiful young woman in the world, so lovely that she incurred the jealousy of Aphrodite. She sent her son Eros to cause her to fall in love with a man whose ugliness was as great as Psyche's beauty. When Eros saw Psyche for himself, it was he who fell in love with her, and he spared her his mother's curse.

When an oracle consulted by Psyche's parents advised them that only a god was intended for a girl as beautiful as she, they led her to the top of a mountain and left her there to be found by one of the immortals. Soon, Zephyrus the god of the west wind carried Psyche to a palace in a secret valley where she was attended to by invisible servants.

In the darkness of night, Eros came to Psyche and made love to her, but he warned her never to try to see his face, for he insisted that she not know who he was. When Psyche was allowed to visit her family and describe all that had happened to her, her envious sisters convinced her to light a lamp in her lover's presence to see his true form, filling her thoughts with fears that he might be an evil and hideous monster.

When Psyche did gaze upon the face of Eros, she realized her foolishness. When a drop of oil from the lamp fell upon Eros' chest and caused him to awaken, he saw that Psyche had disobeyed and he fled, abandoning her.

In time, despite the continued hostility and interference of Aphrodite, Eros and Psyche were reunited. At Eros' request, Zeus summoned Psyche to Mount Olympus where she was offered a drink of Ambrosia, giving her immortality, whereupon the two were wed.