![]() While most accounts claim that there are only three of these beings, the full roster of their names and influences can be found here.Īuxo or Auxesia, whose name means “spring growth.” Even the names of these beings are subject to some interpretation. The Kharites, anglicized as the “Charites” or the “Graces,” were a group of goddesses, with an inconsistent population number, that oversaw concepts like beauty, charm, creativity, fertility goodwill, and nature. It is also worth mentioning that her connection to Hypnos may have also meant that Pasithea was associated with rest and relaxation indeed, some interpret her divine portfolio to extend to rest, meditation, hallucination and other states of altered consciousness. The other prominent interpretation of her name is that it means “acquired goddess” and this meaning has evidence in the story of how she became wed to Hypnos. It is known that Pasithea’s name is also found in the world of botany there is a specific plant called Pasithea that may have been known for causing hallucinations. The notion that she was “acquired sight” is presented as evidence that she was a source of hallucinations. Now that you know the parts, you can see why historians and mythologists are a little fuzzy on what Pasithea was about. Thea has an even greater degree of variation it can mean “contemplation,” “divine,” “goddess,” “seeing” or “sight. Pasis can mean “all,” “possessed” or “acquired.” We know that her name breaks down into two major elements, “pasis” and “thea,” but any notion of what their exact intention is when put together involves a bit more guessing than absolute certainty. While her initial Greek name is Πασιθεα, gaining an exact translation is a little hazy. 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.Pasithea, pronounced “pa-si-they-uh,” was a minor goddess in Greek mythology and was one of younger members of the Charites. 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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