Nyx

In Greek mythology, **Nyx** is the goddess and personification of the night. According to Hesiod's Theogony, she is the offspring of Chaos and the mother of Aether and Hemera (Day) by Erebus (Darkness). Nyx, by herself, gives birth to a brood of children representing primarily negative forces. She is featured in early cosmogonies as one of the first deities. Poets and playwrights depict her residing at the ends of the Earth, characterized as a black-robed goddess who travels through the sky in a chariot pulled by horses. In the Iliad, Homer notes that even Zeus fears displeasing her.

## OVERVIEW:

In various Orphic theogonies, Night plays a significant role, frequently depicted as the mother of Uranus and Gaia. In the earliest Orphic cosmogonies, she stands as the primal deity, while in later Orphic Rhapsodies, she becomes the daughter and consort of Phanes, the second ruler of the gods. Night, in this context, delivers prophecies to Zeus from an adyton and is regarded as the nurse of the gods. The Rhapsodies suggest the existence of three distinct Night figures.

Ancient Greek art often portrays Nyx alongside celestial deities like Selene, Helios, and Eos, appearing as a winged figure steering a horse-drawn chariot. While not of significant cultic importance, she is linked to various oracles. Her Roman equivalent is named Nox.

## MYTHOLOGY:

According to Hesiod's Theogony, Nyx, born of Chaos alongside Erebus (Darkness), is the mother of Aether and Hemera (Day). Without a father, Nyx gives birth to various entities, including Moros (Doom, Destiny), Ker (Destruction, Death), Thanatos (Death), Hypnos (Sleep), the Oneiroi (Dreams), Momus (Blame), Oizys (Pain, Distress), the Hesperides, the Moirai (Fates), the Keres, Nemesis (Indignation, Retribution), Apate (Deceit), Philotes (Love), Geras (Old Age), and Eris (Strife). Some later authors maintain these relationships.

However, alternative genealogies exist. In one account, she is the mother of Tartarus by Aether, while others describe her as the mother of Eros by Aether, or the mother of Aether, Eros, and Metis by Erebus. Bacchylides suggests Nyx as the mother of Hemera by Chronos (Time) and mentions Hecate as her daughter. Aeschylus attributes the Erinyes (Furies) to Nyx, while Euripides identifies Lyssa (Madness) as the daughter of Nyx and Uranus.

In Roman mythology, Nox, the counterpart of Nyx, is featured in various genealogies outlined by Roman authors. According to Cicero, Nox and Erebus are the parents of Aether, Dies (Day), Amor (Love), Dolus (Guile), Metus (Fear), Labor (Toil), Invidentia (Envy), Fatum (Fate), Senectus (Old Age), Mors (Death), Tenebrae (Darkness), Miseria (Misery), Querella (Lamentation), Gratia (Favor), Fraus (Fraud), Pertinacia (Obstinacy), the Parcae, the Hesperides, and the Somnia (Dreams).

According to the mythographer Hyginus, Nox is born of Chaos and Caligo (Mist), alongside Dies (Day), Erebus (Darkness), and Aether. With Erebus, Nox gives birth to various entities, including Fatum (Fate), Senectus (Old Age), Mors (Death), Letum (Destruction), Continentia (Strife), Somnus (Sleep), the Somnia (Dreams), Lysimeles (Thoughtfulness), Epiphron (Hedymeles), Porphyrion, Epaphus, Discordia (Discord), Miseria (Misery), Petulantia (Petulance), Nemesis, Euphrosyne (Cheerfulness), Amicitia (Friendship), Misericordia (Pity), Styx, the Parcae (Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos), and the Hesperides (Aegle, Hesperia, and Erythea). Other Roman sources also associate Nox as the mother of the Furies, sometimes with Pluto as the father.

In an early Orphic source, Nyx, portrayed as the initial deity, is described as the possible mother of Uranus, potentially without a father. In a subsequent account, she is both the consort and daughter of Phanes, giving rise to Uranus and Gaia. Another narrative, likely stemming from an Orphic cosmogony, suggests Nyx giving birth to a "wind-egg," from which Eros emerges. Later Orphic sources mention her as the mother of the Stars (potentially by Uranus) and, in one version, as the daughter of Eros.

Quintus Smyrnaeus attributes Nyx as the mother of Eos (Dawn), while Byzantine author Tzetzes claims she is the mother of the Moirai, seemingly by the Titan Cronus. In the Dionysiaca of Nonnus, Nyx is the offspring of Chaos, aligning with Hesiod's Theogony. However, in a genealogy by the 12th-century writer Michael of Ephesus (incorrectly attributed to Alexander of Aphrodisias), Nyx is presented as the offspring of Oceanus and the mother of Uranus.

## HISTORY:

In the Iliad, Homer recounts a tale wherein Nyx intervenes to protect Hypnos from Zeus' wrath. When Hera urges Hypnos to lull Zeus to sleep, he refuses, recalling a previous favor he granted her to persecute Heracles without Zeus's knowledge. Hypnos reveals that Zeus, upon awakening, was furious and would have cast him into the sea if not for Nyx's protection. Despite Zeus's anger, he refrains from displeasing Night. Scholars suggest that Homer's depiction hints at Nyx's elevated status, possibly preceding even Oceanus and Tethys in a genealogy. Pietro Pucci proposes that the story might derive from an earlier work with a more detailed account of the event.

In Hesiod's Theogony, considered the Greeks' "standard" account of the gods' origin, Nyx is among the earliest beings, born of Chaos alongside Erebus (Darkness). Through their union, Aether and Hemera (Day) are produced. Without a father, Nyx becomes the mother of abstract personifications, primarily negative forces, which held real power in the Greek worldview.

Hesiod places Nyx's home at the far western end of the Earth, possibly beyond Oceanus. In a somewhat confused section, he suggests her home may be near the entrance to the underworld, shrouded in dark clouds. The Titan Atlas, upholding the sky, stands outside, and nearby are the homes of her children, Hypnos and Thanatos. Nyx and her daughter Hemera share a dwelling, passing each other at the entrance daily. Hesiod depicts Nyx's journey over the world as she wraps herself in a vaporous cloud, cradling her son Hypnos in her arms.

Nyx is a prominent figure in various early cosmogonies, featuring as one of the earliest deities. Musaeus, as reported by Philodemus, considers Tartarus and Night as the first beings, followed by Air. Epimenides, according to Philodemus, identifies Air and Night as the two first principles, constituting everything else. Damascius adds that Tartarus is born from Air and Night, producing two Titans.

Acusilaus, as noted by Damascius, places Chaos before Erebus and Night, with this pair generating Aether, Eros, and Metis. Antiphanes, in a cosmogony recorded by Irenaeus, depicts Night and Silence as the first deities, giving rise to Chaos, Eros, Light, and the initial generation of gods. Chrysippus' Physics and another unspecified origin tale describe Night alongside Tartarus as the first pair, from whom all things are born, according to Philodemus.

Authors following Hesiod, like Alcman, Stesichorus, Parmenides, Euripides, Sophocles, and Apollonius of Rhodes, place Nyx at the ends of the Earth, living in the far north, beyond Oceanus, or in Erebus. Alcman locates Nyx in the far north, mentioning the Riphean mountains as the "breast of black night." Stesichorus places Nyx beyond Oceanus in the far west, associating her with the depths of holy, dark night. Parmenides appropriates Hesiod's alternation of Nyx and Hemera in his philosophical treatise, and Euripides identifies Nyx's abode in Erebus. Sophocles refers to the "springs of Night" in the north, while Apollonius of Rhodes mentions the Eridanus river rising from the end of the earth, where the gates and precincts of Night are located, placing her home in the far west.