Hypnos In The Greek Mythology

Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep, is a mythological figure in Greek mythology. His mother was Nyx and his father Erebus. Zeus, one of the most powerful Greek Gods, was scared to enter Nyx’s realm, as Nyx was a powerful and dreadful goddess. Thanatos (death) and Hypnos lived in the Hades underworld, in caves located near each other. These caves had no sun or moonlight and were totally silent. Poppies and other plants that produce sleeping were found around the caves. According to legend, his bed was made from ebony.

Hypnos is a calm, gentle god that aids mortal humans in times of need. He is half of all human lives because he is the god sleep. From Hypnos’ cave, the river Lethe flows (forgetfulness). His cave also houses the night and day. Hypnos was twice asked by Hera, the goddess of love and marriage, to put Zeus down. Hypnos was attempting to revenge the ransacking by Zeus’ son Heracles of Troy. Zeus awoke from his sleep to learn what had occurred. He attempted to locate Hypnos but couldn’t because Hypnos had fled with Nyx.

Hypnos put Zeus asleep twice because Hera promised her that Pasithea could be his wife. Hypnos made Hera take a vow by the Styx to help her. Hera dressed up in a beautiful outfit and asked Zeus for permission to visit her parents to stop them from fighting. Hera received a charm from Aphrodite (the goddess love) that she used. Zeus accepted and put Hypnos to sleep when he hugged Hera. Hypnos told Poseidon that he could help them win the Trojan War. Zeus didn’t know Hypnos had put Hypnos down again. Hypnos was married to Pasithea and they had three children, Phobetor (Morpheus), Phantasos (Phantosos), and Oneiroi (“the dreams”). The cave where the Ocean of the West is found was home to the Oneiroi. Two doors were found in their cave that would allow them to dream. The ivory door had the other, while the buckthorn one was the one. Hypnos had first to make the person sleep before they could send their dreams.

Hypnos is portrayed as a young, unmarried man with wings either on his shoulders or on his brow. The horn of opium is often held by Hypnos. It produces sleep. Hypnos is also known as Somnus and Hypnus.