In Greek mythology, Hypnos (also spelled “Hypnus”) was the god of sleep and the son of Nyx, the goddess of night. He was often depicted as a handsome and youthful figure with wings, holding a poppy or a horn of sleep. He was considered to be a peaceful and benevolent figure who helped people to rest and rejuvenate.
Hypnos was often associated with his twin brother Thanatos, the god of death, and they were often depicted together escorting the souls of the dead to the underworld. He was also associated with the idea of restful and restorative sleep and was not seen as a malevolent figure like other sleep gods in other cultures.
Hypnos was also said to have a palace in the underworld where he lived with his wife Pasithea, the goddess of relaxation, and their children, Morpheus, the god of dreams and Phobetor, the god of nightmares.
Symbolism
Hypnos personifies sleep in all its forms—from peaceful rest to deep unconsciousness. Artists often depict him as a gentle youth with wings sprouting from his temples or shoulders, sometimes holding a poppy or pouring sleep from a horn. His symbols—poppies, black feathers, and the branch of Lethe—suggest tranquility, oblivion, and the thin line between sleep and death.
He often appears reclining or floating, serene and untouched by the struggles of the waking world.
Appearances in Myths
- The Iliad: Hera enlists Hypnos to put Zeus to sleep so she can manipulate the battle on behalf of the Greeks. Hypnos hesitates, remembering how Zeus once punished him for doing the same. But he agrees—on the condition that Hera promises him one of the Graces as his bride. With the task complete, Hypnos lulls Zeus into deep sleep, allowing Hera to act without interference.
- Brother of Thanatos: Hypnos and Thanatos (Death) are twin sons of Nyx (Night). While Thanatos brings a final end, Hypnos offers temporary release. The brothers appear together in several myths, especially in the peaceful deaths of heroes like Sarpedon, whose body they gently carry away from the battlefield.
- Realm of Sleep: Hesiod describes Hypnos dwelling in a cave where no sunlight or sound enters. Poppies bloom at the entrance, and the river Lethe flows nearby. No mortal can enter uninvited, and no god lingers long.
Worship and Cult
Hypnos had no major temples, but Greeks acknowledged his power with votive offerings and references in funerary art. As the gentle companion of death, he earned quiet reverence. The Romans identified him with Somnus, and his image appears frequently in sarcophagi and tomb inscriptions, emphasizing eternal rest.
Dream oracles, like the one at Epidaurus, invoked Hypnos during ritual sleep (incubation), where the faithful sought healing visions.
Modern Appearances
Language and Science
- The word “hypnosis” derives from Hypnos, reflecting the trance-like states he governs.
- The term “hypnagogic” (relating to the transition from wakefulness to sleep) honors his influence on the human mind.
Books and Pop Culture
- The Sandman by Neil Gaiman – Includes Hypnos-inspired motifs in the figure of Dream.
- Percy Jackson & the Olympians – Features Hypnos as a quiet, courteous deity with great hidden power.
Astronomy
- The asteroid 14827 Hypnos, a near-Earth object, bears his name, nodding to the god who passes unseen but with profound effect.