a. The Song of Songs, Solomon  - 12-10th c BC.  Mesopotamia, Syria and beyond
Love can be chaotic and serene/beautiful
Idea of perfection in nature is paralleled with that of love
Pure love cannot be forsaken by material goods and power

b. The First Love Stories (Mythology):
i. Psyche and Eros, (Diane Wolkstein version) and
ii. Cupid and Psyche (Bullfinch version)

See beyond appearances for true love
Love conquers all
Love can enrich one’s life
Jealousy can destroy one’s life

c.  poems: The Love Songs of Sappho  (~612 BC)
Love can enrich one’s life
Love can be beautiful and serene
Jealousy and frustration can make the experience less serene

d. Plato:  The Symposium  (427-347 BC)
Love is the child of poverty and divinity
Love is a desire for the perpetual possession of the good.’ (Plato, 1951, p. 86)
Love is a desire for immortality
Love is generally calm and serene
Beauty of the soul is preferable to beauty of the body
 

e. Ovid:  The Art of Love (Roman poet 43 BC-17 AD)
Mostly a seduction manual with rules of behavior, advice for personal hygiene and appearance.  Applies to dating, not for spouses.  A serious note about finding love within one’s community (Book 1, line 51)
 

f. The New Testament:
i. Saint Matthew,
ii. St John, Romans,
iii. Corinthians

Agapic love – pure, charitable, selfless, directed towards God, others and oneself
God’s love is unconditional.
If one does not act out of passion and true feelings, actions are meaningless
Love is forgiveness (Opposite of the Talion)