Venus is incredibly jealous of Psyche because of the overwhelming attention Psyche is receiving for her extraordinary beauty.
The Root of Venus's Jealousy
The key reason for Venus's jealousy can be summarized as follows:
- Beauty Rivalry: Mortals have started to praise Psyche as a second Venus, even calling her a "new and younger, virginal Venus". This directly challenges Venus's status as the goddess of beauty.
- Shifting Worship: People are abandoning Venus's temples in her famous cities to instead praise Psyche. This significant shift in worship infuriates Venus.
- Erosion of Power: Venus, used to being the sole object of beauty admiration and religious devotion, finds her power and influence diminished by Psyche's growing popularity.
Venus's Reaction
Venus is not pleased with the situation. Rather, she is described as falling into "an extreme rage" because of the adoration that Psyche is receiving. This indicates a strong emotional response rooted in her feeling of being usurped in her domain as the embodiment of beauty and object of worship.
| Feature | Venus | Psyche |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Goddess of Love and Beauty | Mortal Woman |
| Adoration | Traditionally worshipped for beauty | Receiving praise as a new Venus |
| Reaction | Enraged by the shift in attention | Unaware of the goddess' anger |
In summary, Venus's jealousy stems from the fact that Psyche is being compared to and even surpassing her in terms of perceived beauty, leading to a decline in Venus's own worship and recognition.
