Erebos

Also known as Erebus

In Greek mythology, Erebus (; ), or Erebos, is the personification of darkness. In Hesiod's Theogony, he is the offspring of Chaos, and the father of Aether and Hemera (Day) by Nyx (Night); in other Greek cosmogonies, he is the father of Aether, Eros, and Metis, or the first ruler of the gods. In genealogies given by Roman authors, he begets a large progeny of personifications upon Nox (the Roman equivalent of Nyx), while in an Orphic theogony, he is the offspring of Chronos (Time).

AI overview

Erebos is a figure from Greek mythology who represents darkness itself, appearing in various creation stories with different roles and family relationships depending on the version. He matters to understanding ancient Greek cosmology because different mythological accounts give him significant positions—such as child of Chaos or father of important deities—reflecting how ancient Greeks conceptualized the origins of the universe and the nature of darkness within it.

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native label: Έρεβος

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Article

5 sections

Contents

Etymology
Personification of darkness
Name or region of the underworld
Notes
References

The name "Erebus" is also used to refer either to the darkness of the underworld, the underworld itself, or the region through which souls pass to reach the underworld, and can sometimes be used as a synonym for Tartarus or Hades.