Aristophanes offers a story dealing with human nature and the human condition. Human beings were once spherical, with eight limbs like an octopus (think before you next throw that octopus on the barbie - you may be committing cannibalism), four arms and four legs, one head with two faces and four ears and two sets of genitals, male or female, or both, so that they were any one of three kinds: male-male, male-female, female-female. One day they offended the gods and to punish them, Zeus cut them in half, scattering the two severed halves in opposite directions. Since that day, we are always searching for our other half. When a half meets its other half, each is overcome by Eros and each delights in being with each other half. The reason for this is not, or at least not merely, a desire for sexual intercourse: on the contrary, the soul of each wishes for something it cannot put into words. Lovers desire to live a common life and die a common death, to become One again, in a complete and lasting union. The reason for this is our ancient nature: we were once unified Whole. 'Eros' Aristophanes tells us, 'Is he desire and pursuit of Wholeness'.
I know this isn't true. I'm not a believer of myths but I was really impressed to this one. Talking about the origin of Love, searching our other half, and so on. Now, I'm starting to wonder where is my other half. Lol.
