Cupid, also known as Amor, was the Roman god of erotic love, desire, and affection. He was often portrayed as a child or baby with bird wings on his back and wielding a bow. The arrows he shot into people were of two types, golden ones that caused people to fall in love and lead ones that caused people to stop loving. His Greek equivalent was Eros.

During the Renaissance, Cupid was typically portrayed as a baby and today (now wearing a diaper) is a Valentine's Day icon. It's not unusual for various characters to dress up as Cupid or attempt to kill him for Valentine's Day.

According to most Roman and Greek myth, Cupid was the son of Venus/Aphrodite (whom he often accompanied in Renaissance art) and Mars/Ares. His siblings include Anteros (god of requited love), Himeros (god of sexual desire and unrequited love), Phobos (fear), Deimos (terror), Concordia/Harmonia (goddess of harmony), Adrestia (goddess of revenge and balance), and possibly Pothos (god of longing). He married the mortal woman Psyche (soul) and was the father of Voluptas/Hedone (pleasure).

For more information:

• Cupid (Wikipedia)