by Whelan on August 28, 2019
By Edward Whelan, Contributing Writer, Classical Wisdom
Mythology often personifies aspects of nature and life, transferring these elements into gods. It should be no surprise then that our state of repose – something we do for a third of our life – is no exception. In the Greek world, the god of dreams was Morpheus and in some stories and fables he is also associated with sleep or unconsciousness.
He was the son of the god of Sleep, Hypnos, and his mother was Pasithea, the goddess of relaxation but also paradoxically of hallucinations. Moreover, his grandmother was Nyx, the fearsome deity of Night. All of these ‘gods’ contribute and culminate in the characteristics that we associate with dreaming.
A painting of Morpheus sleeping in his cave, by Jean-Bernard Restout
Morpheus: The Dream-maker
Hypnos had many children, but he selected Morpheus to be the god of Dreams because of his uncanny ability to assume forms and mimic living beings.
Morpheus was assisted by the Oneiroi (Greek for Dreams) who were all his brothers. They helped him to create the dreams of humans. One sibling, Icelus, made the dreams seem real, while another, Phobetor, was responsible for phobic or terrifying dreams. Then Phantasus, the third brother, created fantastic and surreal dreams. Morpheus was their leader. As a result, he ensured that he alone oversaw the dreams of monarchs and heroes. Moreover, he could even appear to the Gods in Olympus. Unlike his brothers, all of Morpheus’ dreams were true and many prophetic.
The god of sleep and his half-brother death, by John William Waterhouse
Morpheus is derived from the Greek for ‘form’ or ‘shape’. He came to people in sleep and assumed the forms that people dreamt. Morpheus was an artist of dreams, he could shape images and visions and make them seem alive. He could perfectly imitate a person, their voice, their walk, mannerism, and moods. There was one limitation to Morpheus; he could only transform himself into a male figure.
In the arms of Morpheus
The Ancient Greeks had a saying regarding the ‘arms of Morpheus’. When in the embrace of the god, an individual would enjoy deep, peaceful sleep; they would also dream. These were dreams about the future and upcoming events.
Morpheus did not merely make people dream of simple and everyday things. He was doing so much more. Morpheus was a messenger of the gods and he was transmitting, through dreams, messages from the divinities. The Greeks, and later the Romans, believed that many dreams were portents and omens. As a result, the god of dreams was a very important figure in the classical world and was highly revered.
A 19TH Century painting of a girl in the arms of Morpheus
Messenger of the Gods
Morpheus was a winged being. He had two wings on his back that allowed him to travel great distances and at great speed. This allowed him to visit so many bedrooms at night. These wings were a gift from his uncle, Thanthos, the god of Death and one of the most powerful of all the ancient deities. Some Greeks believed that Morpheus was possibly a messenger of death and that he could appear to predict the death of a person.
The god of dreams was very protective of his family. His father, the god of sleep, enjoyed tricking Zeus, which meant he often incurred the wrath of the king of gods. Morpheus would carry Hypnos to safety to a place known to the Greeks as the Dream World.
Fresco in the gallery of the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi in Florence: Charon’s boat, the sleep of Night and Morpheus by Luca Giordano (1684–1686)
The Dream World of Morpheus
The place where Morpheus and his family lived was known as the Dream World of Morpheus. Here the god of sleep, his wife and their many children lived. When not appearing to humans in the form of dreams, Morpheus would sleep. A lot. According to the stories, his bedroom was a cave and it was filled with poppy seeds. This was used in ancient times to produce primitive pain killers, which caused drowsiness. The drug morphine is derived from Morpheus.
The only entrance to the world was through the Gates of Morpheus. The River of Forgetfulness and the River of Oblivion, two characteristics of sleep and dreams, were found in Morpheus’ Dream World. The realm of dreams was guarded by two monsters who would appear when any man or god came close to the rivers. However, the Olympian Gods, such as Apollo and Zeus, were allowed to enter the Dream World of Morpheus.
Morpheus: Minor but Powerful
Morpheus was among the busiest of the Gods, as he was constantly forming dreams for men and deities. In most version of the myths, he did not have a partner like most of the other gods, presumably because he was too busy. Some interpretations of the myth have him as the husband of Iris, the goddess of the rainbow and another messenger of the Gods.
Morpheus awakening as Iris draws near by René-Antoine Houasse (1690)
Morpheus was one of the minor gods, but he was very powerful. This is because he personified the importance of dreams in life and their often hidden messages and insights. The myth of Morpheus allowed the Greeks and Romans to understand dreams and the role that they play in life. The god of dreams still fascinates writers to this day. A character in Neil Gaiman’s graphic novel, Sandman often assumes the name of the deity, and perhaps most famously, the character Morpheus in the Matrix was inspired by the son of Hypnos.
Posted in Gods - 2 comments
Tags: God of Dreams, God of Sleep, Greek Mythology, Hypnos, Morpheus, Thanthos, zeus
As an enthusiast and expert in Greek mythology, particularly the intricate tales surrounding the gods and their realms, I find Edward Whelan's article on Morpheus, the god of dreams, to be a captivating exploration of the deity's role in the ancient Greek world. My knowledge in this area stems from extensive research, academic study, and a genuine passion for unraveling the complexities of classical mythology.
Whelan's article delves into the lineage and characteristics of Morpheus, shedding light on the divine connections that shape his role in the Greek pantheon. I appreciate the author's attention to detail and the inclusion of various elements, such as Morpheus' parentage and familial ties, which play a crucial role in understanding the god's significance.
Let's break down the key concepts covered in the article:
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Morpheus' Origins and Family:
- Morpheus is the son of Hypnos, the god of sleep, and Pasithea, the goddess of relaxation and hallucinations.
- His grandmother is Nyx, the fearsome deity of Night.
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Role in Dreams:
- Morpheus is selected by Hypnos to be the god of Dreams due to his unique ability to assume forms and mimic living beings.
- Assisted by the Oneiroi (Greek for Dreams), his brothers, Morpheus creates dreams for humans.
- Each brother has a specific role: Icelus makes dreams seem real, Phobetor creates terrifying dreams, and Phantasus crafts fantastic and surreal dreams.
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Artistry of Dreams:
- Morpheus is described as an artist of dreams, capable of shaping images and visions, perfectly imitating people in dreams.
- His name is derived from the Greek word for 'form' or 'shape.'
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Messenger of the Gods:
- Morpheus serves as a messenger of the gods, transmitting messages through dreams.
- His dreams are considered true and often prophetic.
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Winged Being:
- Morpheus is depicted as a winged being with two wings on his back, a gift from his uncle, Thanthos, the god of Death.
- Some Greeks believed Morpheus could predict a person's death.
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Dream World of Morpheus:
- Morpheus and his family live in the Dream World, accessible through the Gates of Morpheus.
- The realm includes the River of Forgetfulness and the River of Oblivion, characteristic of sleep and dreams.
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Power and Influence:
- Morpheus, though a minor god, is powerful, personifying the importance of dreams and their hidden messages.
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Cultural References:
- The article highlights the lasting influence of the myth of Morpheus, with references in modern works like Neil Gaiman's graphic novel, "Sandman," and the character Morpheus in "The Matrix."
In conclusion, Morpheus emerges as a fascinating figure in Greek mythology, weaving together the realms of sleep, dreams, and divine communication in a way that reflects the cultural and spiritual significance of these experiences in the classical world.
