Nyx

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Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses for Kids - Nyx
The myths and legends surrounding Nyx, the primordial dark goddess of Night

Nyx for kids
Discover the myths surrounding Nyx, the Primordial Greek goddess of Night. Chaos created Nyx out of the darkness. From Nyx and Chaos came the first divinities who emerged self-formed at the beginning of the creation of Earth, and would create 'Order out of Chaos'. Nyx featured in many legends from ancient Greek mythology and was famously the mother of the many of the dark gods of death and the Underworld.

Nyx for kids
Read about her role as the mother of Charon the Ferryman, the Furies and the Keres, the death spirits. Additional facts about the mythology of individual gods can be accessed via the following links:

Gods and Deities

Greek Gods Mythology

Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses

 

 

Nyx, the dark goddess of Night

Who was Nyx?
Nyx was one of the primeval gods who was born out of Chaos, a casual deity who ruled over confusion in the void of emptiness. Born out of Chaos, Nyx became one of the first of the Immortals. Nyx was believed to be the mother of everything mysterious and anything that was inexplicable, such as death, disease, sleep, ghosts, dreams, witchcraft and enchantments. Erebus, her son and then her consort, reigned in the mysterious Underworld where no ray of sunshine nor gleam of daylight or healthy life ever appeared. According to ancient Greek mythology Nyx and Erebus inhabited a palace in the dark regions of the Underworld. Nyx is represented in ancient Greek art as a beautiful woman, seated in a chariot that is drawn by two black horses. She is clothed in dark robes, wears a long veil, and is accompanied by the stars, which follow in her train.

Picture of Nyx, Goddess of Night

Picture of Nyx

The Children of Nyx
The children of Nyx and Erebus were Aether and his sister Hemera who brought light and day. Their offspring also included many of the dark gods and goddesses of the Underworld including Doom (Moros), Old Age (Geras), Divine Retribution (Nemesis), Death and Sleep (Thanatos and Hypnos), Strife (Eris, the goddess of Discord), Charon, the Fates, the Keres and other personifications.

Nyx (Roman Counterpart was Nox)
When the Roman Empire conquered the Greeks in 146BC, the Romans assimilated various elements from other cultures and civilisations, including the gods and goddesses that were worshipped by the Ancient Greeks. Many of the Greek gods and goddesses, such as Nyx, were therefore adopted by the Romans but were given Latin names. The Roman counterpart of Nyx was Nox.

Picture of Nyx

Picture of Nyx with Hypnos

Nyx and the Dynasties of Greek Gods
According to mythology, Nyx and the Ancient Greek gods and goddesses consisted of three major dynasties from different generations:

  • The First generation of Ancient Greek Gods were the Primeval or Primordial deities
  • The Primordial, or Primeval, gods were those that existed at or from the beginning of time and resided within the region of the universe known as the Elemental Chaos
  • The Second generation were the Titans
  • The Third generation of were the famous Olympian gods

Nyx Family Tree
The goddess Nyx was worshipped as a great dark goddess of Night and was the consort of Chaos. They created a son, Erebus whose province was the Underworld. Erebus supplanted Chaos and married his mother Nyx. Erebus and Nyx created Aether and Hemera and many dark gods and goddesses of the Underworld. Aether and Hemera supplanted Erebus and Nyx. Each dynasty, of Greek Gods overthrew the previous generation. The following Ancient Gods Family Tree details and clarifies the relationship between Nyx and the first primordial generations of gods and goddesses.

Ancient Gods Family Tree - Primeval

The Children of the Dark Goddess Nyx
Short descriptions of the children of Nyx are detailed below:

  • Moros was the god of impending doom, who drives every being, mortal or otherwise, to its fated doom
  • Thanatos was a god of Death who was feared and hated as the enemy of mankind, whose hard heart knew no pity
  • Hypnos was the God of sleep who brought nightmares but also some relief to troubled mortals. The Oneiroi were his sons and gods of dreams, called Morpheus, Icelus, and Phantasos
  • Eris was the personification of quarrels, feuds and disagreements. Her eternal and unforgiving rage was the cause of fear and respect

Picture of Nyx

Picture of Nyx

  • Oizys personified distress, worry and anxiety
  • Momus, the twin of Oizys and the evil-spirited god of blame and unfair criticism
  • Geras was believed to be a malevolent spirit who personified loathsome old age
  • Nemesis was an avenging goddess awarding to each individual the fate which his actions deserve
  • Charon the Ferryman was the grim, unshaven old boatman Charon, who ferried shades across the River Styx to the Underworld
  • Lyssa was the goddess of mad rage and frenzy
  • Epiphron was the god of caution and frugality
  • Hecate was the goddess of magic, witchcraft, spectres and the the ‘Queen of Ghosts’

Nyx Family tree & Genealogy
Nyx, the dark goddess of darkness, was the mother of many of the Gods of death and darkness. Some were the result of her union with Erebus, another important god of the infernal region.

Nyx Family Tree and Genealogy

The family members and genealogy of Nyx are detailed in the following family tree, providing an overview of the relationships between Nyx and some of the principle Greek gods and goddesses of darkness and the Underworld.

The Family of Nyx - Greek Gods Family Tree and Genealogy

Greek Gods Family Tree & Genealogy

The Greek Gods Family Tree

The family members and genealogy of Nyx can be established via the Greek gods family tree, providing an overview of the relationships between Nyx and the principle Greek gods and goddesses.

Nyx

  • Interesting information and Facts about the Greek goddess Nyx
  • Nyx, the Greek dark goddess of Night
  • Stories and Legends in Greek Mythology associated with the ancient Greek goddess Nyx
  • Facts and information about the Gods and Deities of the Ancient World for schools and kids
  • Nyx, the Greek dark goddess of Night
 

 
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