‘Eros’ as a force of physical desire dates back at least as far as the works of Homer, but the concept of Eros quickly became more refined, being to the classical Greeks a personified deity of exceptional beauty and playfulness. Unlike the winged, infantile Cupid, Eros is more often depicted as an adult male wielding a more sinister power: Eros’ tricks were typically played on lovers, using his arrows to manipulate romantic situations between mortals and gods, and to punish those who resisted his efforts.
The Herakles Knot can be traced back to Egyptian times, although it was particularly popular in ancient Greece and Rome. It was used as a symbol of unity and protectiveness, being considered to ward off evil, and was often associated with marriage.