FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, various cultures have subscribed to polytheistic beliefs, which is the idea that there are numerous gods and goddesses, each responsible for a different element or aspect of life (or death).
Probably the best-known classical, polytheistic pantheon in the Western world is that of the Greek gods, denizens of Mount Olympus ruled by Zeus. Though they were primarily worshipped from about900 BCE to 300 CE, their exploits permeate literature, art, and music to this day. The Greeks of the Hellenistic period believed that a deity, Hypnos, presided over sleep.
Mythology
Hypnos was the son of Nyx, who was the goddess of the night, and his father was Erebus, personification of the darkness. Hiypnos’ twin brother was Thanatos, who was the personification of death, reflecting the belief that sleep was a state similar to death.
Hypnos and Thanatos resided together in Hades, the underworld. Hypnos was reputed to live in a cave which was the source of the river Lethe, the symbol of forgetfulness. According to the Roman poet Ovid, Hypnos fathered children, called the Oneiroi, gods and demigods, who were in charge of dreams and nightmares. Among them were Morpheus, god of dreams; Phobetor, ruler of nightmares; and Phantasos, bringer of fantasy or illusion.
Hypnos’s wife or consort was Pasathea, the Grace (a minor goddess) that presided over relaxation and meditation. He was also attended by Aergia, goddess of slothfulness.
Hypnos was generally reputed to be a mild and gentle god, visiting people and helping them fall asleep. His symbol was thepoppy, a flower associated with the sedative properties of the opiate it produces. Hypnos’s best-known adventures are from Homer’sThe Iliad, in which hetricks Zeus, putting him to sleep at Hera’s behest in order to help the Danaans win the Trojan war.
Etymology
Hypnos lends his name to words we use in English today, such as hypnosis, a sleep-like state. Hypnos’ Roman counterpart was Somnus, whose name gives us the root of words like insomnia and somnambulant.
Arts and Culture
Hypnos, like other Greek gods, was widely depicted in various art forms. One of the earliest known examples is a lekythos, or olive oil jug, dating to about 440 BCE. A bronze statue of his head, found in Perugia, Italy, depicts wings sprouting from his temples.
Hypnos has also made several cultural appearances within the last century and a half. He and his brother Thanatos are the subjects ofSleep and His Half-Brother Death, an 1874 painting by pre-Raphaelite artist John William Waterhouse.
In 1922, horror story master HP Lovecraft wrote a short story entitled “Hypnos” about a man who unknowingly befriends the god and subsequently develops a fear of sleeping. Hypno is also the name of a Pokemon with hypnotic powers.
Many cultures have or had a god or mythological figure associated withsleep or the night, a testament to how vital and yet mysterious the sleeping state has always been to humankind. For example, there are notable similarities between Hypnos and the Sandman of Northern and Western European folklore.
Hypnos was said to own half of a person’s life because of how much time we spend sleeping (although technically, we spend about one-third of our lives asleep.) Given how relativelylittle we knowabout sleep today despite technological and scientific advances, it’s not surprising that ancient cultures attributed the phenomenon to supernatural beings.
And it makes sense to us because we feel sleep is heaven.
As a seasoned enthusiast with a profound understanding of mythology and its cultural impact, I bring a wealth of knowledge to shed light on the intricate tapestry of polytheistic beliefs, focusing particularly on the Greek god Hypnos. My expertise spans classical literature, art, and the evolution of mythological concepts over time.
Polytheism, the belief in multiple gods and goddesses, has been an integral aspect of various cultures throughout history. The Greek pantheon, centered around Mount Olympus and governed by Zeus, is arguably the most well-known. This pantheon, worshipped from 900 BCE to 300 CE, continues to influence literature, art, and music.
Within the Hellenistic period, the Greeks venerated Hypnos, the god of sleep, who played a crucial role in their mythological narrative. Born to Nyx, the goddess of the night, and Erebus, the personification of darkness, Hypnos shared the underworld with his twin brother Thanatos, the embodiment of death. This sibling dynamic reflected the Greek belief that sleep resembled a state akin to death.
Hypnos resided in a cave that sourced the river Lethe, symbolizing forgetfulness. According to Ovid, Hypnos fathered the Oneiroi, gods and demigods responsible for dreams and nightmares. Notable among them were Morpheus, the god of dreams, Phobetor, ruler of nightmares, and Phantasos, bringer of fantasy or illusion.
The deity's consort was Pasathea, a Grace presiding over relaxation and meditation, while Aergia, the goddess of slothfulness, attended him. Depicted as a mild and gentle god, Hypnos aided people in falling asleep, and his symbol was the poppy, associated with the sedative properties of opium.
Hypnos's influence extends beyond mythology, impacting language and culture. The term "hypnosis" derives from his name, emphasizing the association with a sleep-like state. His Roman counterpart, Somnus, contributes to words like insomnia and somnambulant.
Artistically, Hypnos has been a recurring theme. From a 440 BCE lekythos to a bronze statue in Perugia, Italy, various representations showcase his significance. Notably, the pre-Raphaelite artist John William Waterhouse depicted Hypnos and Thanatos in the 1874 painting "Sleep and His Half-Brother Death."
In literature, HP Lovecraft's 1922 short story "Hypnos" explores a man's unwitting friendship with the god, resulting in a fear of sleep. Additionally, the name "Hypno" is attributed to a Pokémon with hypnotic powers.
The enduring presence of gods associated with sleep, such as Hypnos, across cultures underscores the timeless fascination and mystery surrounding the state of sleep. Even with contemporary technological and scientific advancements, the supernatural attribution of sleep in ancient cultures resonates, reflecting the enduring allure and enigma of this fundamental aspect of human existence.
