古典期以前のギリシアにもエロス崇拝は存在したが、アフロディーテのそれに比べるとはるかに重要度は低かった。しかし、古代末期、テスピアイの豊穣信仰によってエロースは崇拝されていた。アテネではアフロディーテと並んで人気が高く、毎月4日はヘーラークレース、ヘルメース、アフロディーテと並んで聖日とされた。<ref>Mikalson Jon D., The Sacred and Civil Calendar of the Athenian Year, 2015, Princeton University Press, isbn:9781400870325, page186, https://books.google.com/books?id=d4p9BgAAQBAJ&pg=PA186</ref>
エロスは、ヒメロスやポトスなどとともに、男性同士の同性愛のパトロンとされることもあるエロテスの一人である<ref>Cassell's Encyclopedia of Queer Myth, Symbol and Spirit, Conner, Randy P. , Sparks, David Hatfield, Sparks, Mariya, 1998, Cassell, UK, isbn:0-304-70423-7, page133</ref>。
Eros was one of the [[Erotes (mythology)|Erotes]], along with other figures such as [[Himeros]] and [[Pothos (mythology)#Pothos|Pothos]], who are sometimes considered patrons of homosexual love between males.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Cassell's Encyclopedia of Queer Myth, Symbol and Spirit|last=Conner |first=Randy P. |author2=Sparks, David Hatfield|author3=Sparks, Mariya |year=1998 |publisher=Cassell |location=UK |isbn=0-304-70423-7 |page=133}}</ref> Eros is also part of a triad of gods that played roles in homoerotic relationships, along with [[Heracles]] and [[Hermes]], who bestowed qualities of beauty (and loyalty), strength, and eloquence, respectively, onto male lovers.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Cassell's Encyclopedia of Queer Myth, Symbol and Spirit|last=Conner |first=Randy P. |author2=Sparks, David Hatfield|author3=Sparks, Mariya |year=1998 |publisher=Cassell |location=UK |isbn=0-304-70423-7 |page=132}}</ref>
The [[Thespiae|Thespians]] celebrated the Erotidia ({{lang-grc|Ἐρωτίδεια}}) meaning festivals of Eros.<ref name="Athenaeus 13.12 GR">[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0008.tlg001.perseus-grc2:13.12 Athenaeus, ''Deipnosophistae'', 13.12 - Greek]</ref><ref name="Athenaeus 13.12 EN">[https://topostext.org/work/218#13.78 Athenaeus, ''Deipnosophistae'', 13.12 - English]</ref><ref name="Pausanias 9.31.3 EN">[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+9.31.3 Pausanias, ''Description of Greece'', 9.31.3]</ref>