Winged,
boyish figures called
erotes were a regular feature of
Roman funerary art, and provide inspiration for the image of the winged
angel.
Erotes are ministers of the
dead, and help to transport the
souls to the land of the dead or the
Christian heaven. They are based on the myth of
Psyche (soul), who marries
Eros (erotic love). They function as "eros psychophoros," or "escorts of the soul." Sometimes they are called
genii (singular "
genius," comparable to the
Daemon, though the association is not entirely accurate).
Erotes were common on
sarcophagi and funerary
altars into the early centuries post-Christ. They were portrayed in pairs, either standing or hovering, and carrying one of three items: a gorgoneion, or
Minerva's shield with the severed head of the
Gorgon, which was believed to be a powerful
amulet against
evil; an inscribed
tablet; or an image of the deceased. Typically they were shown nude, with mantles reaching down to the feet.
Erotes often were depicted along with
Victory, another early inspiration for the
winged angel. They also were associated with the winged
Roman goddess
Aeternitas (Eternity), who functioned as a psychopomp to the dead.
source for additional reading/information:
Berefelt, Gunnar. A Study on the Winged Angel: The Origin of a Motif. Stockholm: Almquist & Wiksell, 1968.