Nyx is often portrayed as a shadowy figure in Greek mythology.
In Greek mythology, the goddess Nyx was one of the oldest deities in the universe, born in the first moments of the creation of the abyss of Chaos. Nyx was the personification of night and was so ancient and powerful that even the mighty Zeus was afraid to cross her. We spoke with Daniel Turkeltaub, professor of classics at Santa Clara University, to learn more about the mist-shrouded figure of Nyx, the chariot-riding queen of the night and mother of death, deceit and dreams.
Content
- A primordial feminine force of good and evil
- Nyx was a charioteer of heaven
- Even Zeus knew not to mess with Nyx
A primordial feminine force of good and evil
Nyx (whose name Turkeltaub says should be pronounced as “nooks”) is one of the “primal” gods – protogenoi in Greek – which was born from Chaos, the void that existed before creation. According to Hesiod's "Theogony," an epic poem dating to the 8th century BC, Nyx's sisters and brothers were Gaia (Earth), Tartarus (the Pit), Eros (Love), and Erebus (Darkness).
Through a “passionate union” with her dark brother, Erebus, Nyx gave birth to two “luminous” descendants, Aether (Divine Air) and Hemera (Day). Then things changed. In Hesiod's cosmology, Nyx next self-conceived a brood of villains that included Keres (spirits of Violent Death), Moros (Doom), Oizys (Misery), Apate (Deceit), Nemesis (Retribution), and the Moirai (the three "unforgiving" and vengeful” Destiny).
Hesiod assigned negative descriptors to Nyx such as “Deadly Night” and “Evil Night,” but the ancient goddess was also the mother of more positive descendants such as Hypnos (Sleep), the Oneiroi (Dreams), Geras (Old Age), Thanatos (Pacific). Death) and Filotes, which can mean Friendship or Sex. “ AND a nighttime activity,” says Turkeltaub.
Nyx was a charioteer of heaven
Few ancient images of Nyx have survived, but a striking one comes from a terracotta vase in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, dating to 500 B.C.
The painted scene shows the hero Hercules offering a sacrifice to Helios (the Sun) as he rises. On either side of Helios are Nyx and Hemera, the goddesses of night and day, who ride horse-drawn carriages in opposite directions at dawn.
The ancient Greeks developed a sophisticated mythology to explain the unknown workings of the natural world, such as the alternation of night and day.
“In Greek mythology, Nyx and her daughter Hemera share a dwelling at the end of the earth,” says Turkeltaub. “When one leaves in his carriage, the other enters.”
See how Hesiod describes it: “Nyx (Night) and Hemera (Day) approach and greet each other as they pass through the great bronze threshold. And while one is about to enter the house, the other leaves the door. And the house never keeps both inside; but always one is away from home passing through the land, while the other stays at home and waits until the time for his journey arrives.
In the vase painting, Nyx is draped in transparent robes and there is a dark cloud or mist above her head. Hesiod describes his resting place in Tartarus as “the terrible home of the dim Night wreathed in dark clouds.”
Even Zeus knew not to mess with Nyx
There aren't many “stories” associated with Nyx, says Turkeltaub, but the ancient Greek author Homer makes a passing reference in his epic poem, the “Iliad,” that shows us the respect and even fear that Nyx commanded.
In this part of the “Iliad”, the powerful goddess Hera hatched a plan to “fall in love” with Zeus, but she needed the help of Hypnos, the god of Sleep and son of Nyx. If Hypnos would just lull Zeus into a deep sleep, Hera promised him golden thrones.
Hypnos wasn't having it, however. He said he already did the same trick with Hera once, when she wanted to meddle in the Trojan War, and it didn't work. Zeus woke up furious and “beat the gods in their house” in search of Hypnos, writes Homer.
Hypnos thought it was over “if Nyx (Night), who has power over gods and men, did not rescue me,” Homer writes. “I overtook her in my flight, and Zeus left her alone, though he was angry, afraid to do anything to displease Nyx.”
In other words, Zeus knew better than to anger Nyx.
“The other gods don’t mess with Nyx,” says Turkeltaub. “She has a power that precedes Zeus. Nyx is a looming ancient mother figure with primal power that other gods respect and revere.”
Now that's cool
Although no statue of Nyx has survived, there may have been a temple dedicated to her in the Greek coastal city of Megara. Turkeltaub says that the ancient Greek geographer Pausanias described a “temple of Night” on the acropolis of Megara, where Nyx was believed to prophesy the future.
