After reading a series of books called The House of Night by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast (which was written more for teenagers in mind), I became interested in learning more about the Goddess Nyx as I realized I didn’t know a thing about her. I’m glad I did!
Alternate Names: Protogenoi, Nox.
Culture: Greek
Mythology: Nyx is the Goddess of the night and one of the first-born elemental Gods called the Protogenoi. She is a primordial deity in Greek mythology which arrived before the Titans or even the Olympians. Nyx is a personification of the night and is the daughter of Chaos or Khaos (air) from which all was created. She married her brother Erebus (darkness) and she produced Aither (light), and Hemera (day) which made up the universe. Her sisters
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She represents sleep, rest and time for reflection, but she also stays
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Basic Wicca 102: The Ground Work, 2, Goddess Paper, Summerlight home to take care of her many spirited children in a gloomy house located at
Tartarus in the depths of the underworld or Hades. In the evening Nyx makes her nightly journey and covers the day with darkness to bring rest to the world.
Like most Goddesses, Nyx can help or harm humankind as she can bring either sleep or death depending on the situation. Nyx’s main myth is still minor compared to the many myths of other Gods and Goddesses, it is also quite short.
Hera wanted to do some things behind Zeus’s back and she requested Hypnos to put him to sleep. When Zeus realized what had happened to him he was angry to say the least and chased Hypnos around the globe with thunder as well as his anger. Zeus almost drove Hypnos into the sea but Nyx got in his way and demanded Zeus apologise to her son and stop chasing him.
One source stated that Nyx is revered by those who wish to cast snares for mischief and treachery but what of her positive qualities? Night is the time
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I always remember that every deity needs to be respected and that there is darkness and light reflected not only in the deities but humans as well. We are all a blending of light and dark and all deities remind us of this as nature is the perfect manifestation of this fact. One must never forget that Nyx is a primordial Goddess and was present at the moment of creation of the Earth along with her
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Basic Wicca 102: The Ground Work, 2, Goddess Paper, Summerlight siblings, she does not need us to worship her, we need to respect, acknowledge and honour her for the night because we require rest and sleep half our lifetime and it also resets our circadian rhythm for our wake/sleep cycle each day. Nyx ensures we stay healthy through our cycles of wakefulness and
the shining light in a dark time that so many people see her to be? According to In The
You can also look at Calypso and see how this near goddess, nymph, has power.
Dionysus messes with him repeatedly and torments him, while Pentheus stays completely blind to his near fate. Dionysus leaves Pentheus weak, confused, and gullible. Dionysus confesses part of his plan, Make him insane. Give him ecstasy, and madness.
Gods and Mortals in Classical Mythology. Springfield, MA: G. & C. Merriam, 1973. Print. The. Lies, Betty Bonham. The Wise Goddess Athena.
Both Zeus and his son Dionysus are no different in this case. Zeus has continually been portrayed as wrathful and violent, he has no problem enacting revenge on another if he feels the victim deserves the punishment. In the story of Prometheus, Zeus tortures Prometheus for his thievery sentencing him to a cruel punishment, “Everyday he sent an eagle to feed on his captives liver, which, however much it was devoured, always grew back again” (35). This excerpt tells of how Zeus is often cruel, unforgiving and quick to enact revenge on his enemies. Even though Zeus is immortal and thought to be the figure of perfection, he still endows many flawed characteristics. He even goes as far as taking pleasure in the pain and agony Prometheus faces for sneaking behind Zeus’s back. I feel this points to how even Zeus isn’t perfect in nature for he often falls prey to the destructive human emotion: anger. Like his father, Dionysus is also quick to enact revenge on his enemies through vicious and bloody ways. In the tale of Pentheus, Dionysus gladly lets the King Pentheus be ripped to bloody shreds for mocking his divine ceremonies. “First they hurled stones, boughs torn from trees, and their
proved to be powerful. Zeus, leader of the gods, was a prime example of this.
Poseidon, the god of the sea, is angered by the death of his son, the Cyclops. When Odysseus and his crew stopped off at the Cyclopes island on their way home from war, the cyclops, Polyphemus, begins terrorizing Odysseus’ men. Odysseus blinded him and boasted about the event. He sends storms against Odysseus and tries to wreak his ship in Book 5. While shipwrecked at sea, on a raft – which was aided by Athena – Poseidon sends another storm, washing Odysseus up on shore. Eventually, Odysseus is on another ship gifted to him by the Phaeacians, Poseidon turns the ship to stone and sinks while pulling into the harbor at Scheria. The idea that “a bad storm” can affect a well-trained
His mother enraged promises him that Agamemnon would pay for what he has done. She pleads to Zeus, graping his knee saying “"O sire of gods and men! thy suppliant hear; Refuse, or grant; for what has Jove to fear? Or oh! declare, of all the powers above, Is wretched Thetis least the care of Jove?"” (pg 32) This quote is interesting because it shows that the gods have the same relationship as normal people would. Thetis begs for a favor that Zeus owes her. Thetis isn’t giving much mind at the lives at stake with her request. Zeus repays her favor by making up a dream in where Nestor tells Agamemnon to go to troy and attack the city’s wall. Zeus says “"Fly hence, deluding Dream! and light as air, To Agamemnon 's ample tent repair. Bid him in arms draw forth the embattled train, Lead all his Grecians to the dusty plain.” (42) Agamemnon does so the very next day. This quote shows how easily Zeus can cause conflict in the human world. All it takes is just one simple “dream”.
in ivy, escaped the flame. Zeus was furious, therefore he cut an incision in his thigh, and
Since he is the king of all gods, it is only right he calls the shots. He has the power to call anyone to his will. One of example of this is when he decides to help Odysseus return home. He tells Hermes “Announce to the nymph with lovely braids our fixed decree: Odysseus journeys home, the exile must return home” (Lines 34-35). Zeus’s word is final. When told it is from the king god himself, the nymph does as she is told. This shows how powerful Zeus and his word is. Also it displays that if Zeus wants it done, it shall be done. Zeus helps Odysseus gets a jump-start to returning home by helping him get released off Calypso’s island. Another scene where Zeus holds the fate of more characters is when Poseidon wants to attack Odysseus. Zeus says to him “Here’s what seems best to me. As the people all lean down from the city’s heights to watch her speeding home, strike her into a rock that looks like a racing vessel, just offshore, amaze all of your men with a marvel for the ages. Then pile your huge mountains round about their port” (Lines 175-180 Book 13). He gives a Poseidon a detailed plan on how to punish his own people. This determines the fate amongst the men on the boat, sending is his second act saving the main character of the story. It might be safe to say that Zeus has a soft spot the
The Greeks had lots of heroes, who were like role models for their children. Hercules was the strongest man ever, and destroyed many monsters with his strength. Perseus had killed a monster called the Medusa. If someone looked at it, they would immediately turn to stone. Oddysseus beat the Trojans in the Trojan war, and on his way home, with his cunning, tricked, and killed many monsters.
Her to beg Zeus for help in getting reprisal on Agamemnon. He pleads with her :
Goddesses play important roles protectors and guardians of men and are demonstrated as being wise and knowledgeable in Homer’s Odyssey. Circe knows the directions to the underworld, and Eidothea, Proteus’ daughter knew where Odysseus was and was able to outmaneuver her father by telling men of how he will try to shift his shape and sh