Amor and Psyche: The Psychic Development of the Feminine: A Commentary on the Tale by Apuleius

A mythic journey of psychological transformation and the development of the self

The renowned tale of Amor and Psyche, from Apuleius’s second-century Latin novel The Golden Ass, is one of the most charming fragments of classical literature. In this landmark book, Erich Neumann reveals how this timeless story is an exemplar of feminine psychology. Unfolding the spiritual and mythical background of the pagan narrative, he shows how the contest between the mortal maid Psyche and the great goddess Aphrodite over the god Amor--Aphrodite’s son, Psyche’s husband--yields surprising and valuable insights into the psychic life of women. A classic work by one of the most brilliant figures of the twentieth century, Amor and Psyche offers a profound meditation on the tensions between the conscious and unconscious, the feminine and the masculine, and the known and unknown.

Erich Neumann (1905-1960), a psychologist and philosopher, was born in Berlin and lived in Tel Aviv from 1934 until his death. His books include The Fear of the Feminine, The Great Mother, and The Origins and History of Consciousness (all Princeton).