Hypnos: God Of Sleep

Hypnos is the God of Sleep. He is the son of Nyx, the Goddess of night. Hypnos is often represented as a young man, with a gentle demeanor and wings either on his shoulders or temples. Hypnos had a twin brother Thanatos, the God of Death. Hypnos’ father was Erebus, the God of Darkness. According to Hesiod, however, Hypnos had no father. Hypnos resided in a dark cave in Hades. The entrance to the cave was full of poppies and other types of hypnotic plants. One version says that Hypnos resided in a cave under Lemnos. The Lethe River, or River of Forgetfulness, used to flow through Hypnos’ cave. Hypnos was able to influence gods and men, not even Zeus was exempt from the powers because both times the ever-zealous Hera was involved. First, Hera became extremely angry with Hercules, and thus, wanted to
So Hera asked Hypnos to use his abilities to overpower Zeus. Hypnos fulfilled Hera’s request, and enraged Zeus. Zeus went on the hunt for Hypnos, wanting to punish him. However, Zeus found Hypnos in Nyx’s arms and his anger melted. Zeus warned Hypnos to not attempt overpowering Zeus again. But, alas, the temptation tickled Hypnos again, and he over powered Zeus a second time. During the Trojan War, Hera again wanted Hypnos to overpower Zeus. She wanted to help the Achaeans because they were losing. So Hera went to Hypnos and asked him to put Zeus to sleep. Hypnos was reluctant this time and only agreed to overpower Zeus if Hypnos could have Pasithea for his bride. Hera reluctantly agreed after having several other offers of gifts to Hypnos turned down. Hera turned Hypnos into a bird, he hid in a tree by Zeus while Hera seduced Zeus, and Hypnos put him to sleep. Zeus never found out about Hypnos’ second overpowering of Zeus. Hypnos is also said to reside in Erebos, the land of eternal darkness. It is also believed that Hypnos used to rise into the sky each night with his mother. Hypnos had many sons called the Oneiroi, or