![]() Nor setting, visits, nor the lightsome noon ![]() Later authors gave more picturesque accounts of Hypnos’ home, describing it as nestled in some remote corner of the world and blossoming with all kinds of soporific plants: But from an early period, Hypnos was also associated with the Aegean island of Lemnos. According to Hesiod, the god of sleep lived with his mother Nyx and his brother Thanatos in the dark depths of the Underworld. There were different accounts of where exactly Hypnos made his home. He was also occasionally imagined as the companion of Eros. In some later accounts, he was said to be a follower of Dionysus. The Oneiroi (“Dreams”), for example, were sometimes described as his subjects. In addition to his mother Nyx (“Night”) and his twin brother Thanatos (“Death”), Hypnos had a number of close associates among the gods. Moreover, as the bringer of dreams, Hypnos was sometimes viewed as a deceptive god. On the other hand, Hypnos was closely connected with death-Thanatos, death personified, was his twin brother, after all-and he could therefore be menacing. On the one hand, he was a gentle, kindly force-the embodiment of sweet sleep and a liberator from care and anxiety. He could also bring sleep to gods or mortals by covering them with a veil, or even with his mere presence. The god would typically approach people from the air and could induce sleep using any number of attributes: his wings, a twig, a wand dipped in the waters of the River Lethe, or a horn filled with sleep-inducing drugs. According to the poet Hesiod, he “roam peacefully over the earth and the sea’s broad back and kindly to men.” Gentle Hypnos was typically described as handsome, youthful, and winged (his wings, at least in some accounts, were said to grow out of his temples). He was thus regarded as an extremely powerful deity. He was responsible for bringing sleep to all living things, both mortal and immortal. Hypnos was the god or daemon who personified sleep. In Roman culture, Hypnos was called Somnus or Sopor (Latin words for “sleep”). Hýpnos) is the Greek word for “sleep.” It is ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European * sup- no-, also meaning “sleep.” Another version asserts that Hypnos himself was in love with Endymion and made his sleep with his eyes open because he wanted to see always Endymion's beautiful eyes.The name “Hypnos” (Greek ῞Υπνος, translit. Hypnos gave Endymion the gift of sleeping with his eyes open, so as to be able to always see his beloved Selene. ![]() Hypnos god of sleep was said to live in the Underworld, where the Sun never shines, or in a cave on the island of Lemnos, through which the river Lethe runs. Sarpedon's Corpse Carried Away by Sleep and Death After that, he flew to Poseidon and told him to help the Achaeans while Zeus was sleeping.Īlso from the Illiad we know that, when Sarpedon died, Zeus, his father, sent Hypnos god of sleep and Thanatos god of Death to take his body from the battle field to Lykia, where he should be given a proper burial.Īttic Red-Figure Calyx Krater Depicting Hypnos and Thanatos Carrying the Body of SarpedonĪttic Lekythos Depicting Hyphos and Thanatos Carrying a Dead Man, circa 450 BC He turned into a bird who hid in a pine tree near Zeus and put him to sleep. She also swore on the waters of the river Styx and that convinced Hypnos god of sleep to help her. She also promised him to help him marry the youngest of the Charites, Pasithea, with whom he had been in love all his life. ![]() Hera answered Hypnos by telling him that Zeus wouldn't be as furious over the Trojan thing as he was for his son, Herakles. But the god of sleep took refuge near his mother, Nyx, and Zeus left him alone, because he didn't want to anger Nyx. When Zeus woke up and found out about it, he looked for Hypnos and wanted to punish him. When he did that, Hera was free to torture Herakles, who was at sea. Long time before, Hera had asked Hypnos to put Zeus to sleep. Hypnos was reluctant to help her, as he recalled a previous episode. She promised him a golden throne that Hephaistos would make himself. In the Illiad, Homer narrates an episode about Hera who went to Hypnos and asked him to help her by putting Zeus to sleep, so as he wouldn't interfere with the war by helping the Trojans. Hypnos was the one who brought the gift of sleep and rest to anyone, and as such he had power over both mortals and gods. Hypnos is the Greek God of Sleep Known as Somnus to the Romans or as a bearded man with wings on his shoulders. Head of Hypnos, or Sleep, an Auxiliary of Hades, Represented as a Winged Youth He was represented as a young man with wings on his head. Thanatos (Peaceful Death) was his twin brother and the Oneiroi (Dreams) were considered either his brothers or his sons. He was the son of Nyx and some cite Erebus as his father. In Greek mythology, Hypnos god of sleep was, in fact, a mere personification of sleep.
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