7 Types of Love - Eros

Here is how the Greeks described the different varieties of love that we all experience at some point in our lives:

1. Eros [sexual passion]: Named after the Greek god of fertility, this kind of love represents the ideal of passion and desire, but also irrational and dangerous. In Greek mythology, it is a form of madness brought about by one of Cupid’s arrows. The arrow breaches us and we ‘fall’ in love, as did Paris with Helen, leading to the Trojan War and the downfall of Troy and much of the Greek army.

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7 Types of Love - Philautia

Philautia [self-love]: The Greeks understood that in order to care for others, we must first learn to care for ourselves. This form of self-love is not the unhealthy vanity and self-obsession one. Instead Philautia shares the Buddhist philosophy of “self-compassion” which...

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7 Types of Love - Agape

Agape [love for everyone]: Also known as selfless and unconditional love, Agape is universal love, such as the love for strangers, nature, or God. This is the highest and most radical type of love according to the Greeks, it is the purest form of love tha...

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Love Is All Around us

While we only have one word for LOVE, the ancient Greeks in their pursuit of wisdom and self-understanding found seven different varieties of love.

Most of us intend to be compassionate beings, yet our hectic schedules can often get in the w...

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7 Types of Love - Philia

Philia [deep friendship]: This type of love is all about loyalty and comradeship. It encompasses a brotherly love that shows a mutual compassion and respect. Plato felt that physical attraction was not a necessary part of love, hence the use of the word p...

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7 Types of Love - Ludus

Ludus [playful love]: A playful affection between children or subtle flirtation for casual lovers. The type of affection and innocence we feel in the beginning stages of love. Playfulness in love is an essential ingredient that is often lost in long-term ...

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7 Types of Love - Storge

Storge [familial love]: is a natural form of affection that flows between parents and their children. Storge is the fondness born out of familiarity or dependency and, unlike Eros or Philia, does not hang on our personal qualities. Storge is a powerful fo...

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Is Love Enough?

The message from the Greeks is to nurture the varieties of love and tap into its many sources. Start by Philautia so you do not just seek Eros, but cultivate Philia by spending more time with old friends, call your Mom/Da...

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7 Types of Love - Pragma

Pragma [long standing love]: Making compromises and showing patience. This kind of love teaches you to make an effort to give rather just receiving it. Pragma is a love that has aged, matured and developed over time. It is beyond the physical, it has tran...

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