Great research and well written.

This may be part of the inspiration of the French version, but Beauty and the Beast, like The Snow Queen (where the beast is actually a bear by day), is more likely a retelling of the ancient Eros-Psyche myth which is nearly 2,000 years old (first extended version in any case— 2nd century, CE)—by Lucius Apuleius Madaurensis in Metamorphosis (aka The Golden Ass).

In this case, however, the god Eros, is merely invisible and not covered with hair. As the story was retold time and again, it could’ve been embellished using current people as characters in the newer versions.

For a fascinating retelling of Eros-Psyche, read ‘Til We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis (his final and favorite—to him—novel).