Valentines
Eros, Greek God of Love
Eros was the son of Aphrodite the goddess of love. Eros'
Roman name was Cupid, which means desire. In Roman
mythology he is depicted as a winged child carrying a
bow and arrows.
St Valentine
The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different
saints named Valentine, all of whom were martyred.
One legend is that Valentine was a priest who served
during the third century in Rome. When Emperor
Claudius II decided that single men made better
soldiers than those with wives and families, he
outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing
the injustice of this,, married young lover in secret. He
was put to death. Another suggestion is that Valentine
may have been killed for attempting to help Christians
escape Roman prisons.
Another legend is, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent
the first "valentine" greeting himself after he fell in love
with a young girl--possibly his jailor's daughter--who
visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it
is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed "From your
Valentine," an expression that is still in use today. Then
he was beheaded.