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{{short description|Ancient Greek goddess of the night}} {{short description|Ancient Greek goddess of the night}}
{{about||the water spirit ''Nix''|Nixie (folklore)|the suffix "-nyx", meaning "claw"|List of commonly used taxonomic affixes|other uses}} {{about||the water spirit ''Nix''|Neck (water spirit)|the suffix "-nyx", meaning "claw"|List of commonly used taxonomic affixes|other uses}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2023}} {{more citations needed|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox deity {{Infobox deity
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| consort = ] | consort = ]
| parents = ] | parents = ]
| siblings = ] <!-- do not add Eros, Gaia and Tartarus as siblings according to the Theogony -->
| children = According to ]: | children = According to ]:
<br>With Erebus: ], ]. <br>Without a father: ], ], ], ], the ], ], ], the ], the ], the ], ], ], ], ] and ]. <br>With Erebus: ], ]. <br>Without a father: ], ], ], ], the ], ], ], the ], the ], the ], ], ], ], ] and ].
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{{Greek myth (primordial)}} {{Greek myth (primordial)}}


In ], '''Nyx''' ({{IPAc-en|n|ɪ|k|s}} {{respell|NIX}};<ref></ref> {{Lang-grc|Νύξ}} {{Lang|grc-Latn|Nýx}}, {{IPA-grc|nýks|}}, "Night")<ref>], .</ref> is the goddess and personification of the night.<ref>Grimal, .</ref> In ]'s '']'', she is the offspring of ], and the mother of ] and ] (Day) by ] (Darkness). By herself, she produces a brood of children consisting of various personifications of primarily negative forces. Nyx features prominently in Orphic sources, where she is considered to be the mother of ] and ], and sometimes the daughter and consort of ]. In such accounts, she is variously described as the first being to exist, or as the second ruler of the gods. '''Nyx''' ({{IPAc-en|n|ɪ|k|s}} {{respell|NIX}};<ref></ref> {{Lang-grc|Νύξ}} {{Lang|grc-Latn|Nýx}}, {{IPA-grc|nýks|}}, "Night")<ref>{{LSJ|nu/c|νύξ|ref}}.</ref> is the ] and personification ].<ref>Grimal, .</ref> A shadowy figure, Nyx stood at or near the beginning of creation and mothered other personified deities, such as ] (Sleep) and ] (Death), with ] (Darkness). In ]'s '']'', she is produced from ].<ref>Gantz, pp. 4&ndash;10; Hard, .</ref>


She is typically portrayed as either a winged goddess with a dark cloud halo or dressed in black surrounded by dark mist.{{cn|date=June 2023}} Her Roman equivalent is '''Nox''' (Night).<ref>Tripp, .</ref> She is typically portrayed as either a winged goddess with a dark cloud halo or dressed in black surrounded by dark mist.{{cn}} Her Roman equivalent is '''Nox''' (Night).

== Genealogy ==
According to ]'s '']'', Nyx is the offspring of ], alongside ] (Darkness), by whom she becomes the mother of ] and ] (Day).<ref>Gantz, p. 4; Hard, ; ], '']'' .</ref> Without the assistance of a father, Nyx produces ] (Doom, Destiny), ] (Destruction, Death), ] (Death), ] (Sleep), the ] (Dreams), ] (Blame), ] (Pain, Distress), the ], the ] (Fates), the ], ] (Indignation, Retribution), ] (Deceit), ] (Love), ] (Old Age), and ] (Strife).<ref>Gantz, pp. 4&ndash;5; ], '']'' . The translations used here are those given by Gantz.</ref> A number of these offspring are similarly described as her children by later authors.<ref>], '']'' (two Strifes, one a daughter of Night); ], (two Nemeses daughters of Night); '']'' 1018 (Page, p. 536) (Fates daughters of Nyx; see Gantz, p. 8); ], '']'' (Sleep and Death daughters of Night).</ref> Other early sources, however, give differing genealogies. According to one such account, she is the mother of ] by Aether,<ref>Chrysanthou, p. 303; Fowler, ; '']'' .</ref> while in others, she is variously described as the mother of ] by Aether,<ref>Fowler, ; Cook, ; West, p. 209 n. 106.</ref> or the mother of Aether, Eros, and Metis by Erebus.<ref>Fowler, ; '']'', .</ref> The poet ] apparently considered Nyx to be the mother of Hemera by ] (Time),<ref>], ''Victory Odes'' .</ref> and elsewhere mentions ] as her daughter.<ref>Gantz, p. 26; ], ], 3.467 (Wendel, p. 233)] ]'' 2366.3&ndash;8].</ref> Several authors also mention Nyx as the mother of the ] (Furies).<ref>], '']'' , , ; ], ''Alexandra'' .</ref>

In Orphic sources, Nyx is frequently mentioned as the mother of ]. In one narrative, in which Nyx is the first being to exist, she is considered to be the mother of Uranus and ], without a father. In another account, she is described as both the consort and daughter of ] (despite seeming to exist before him), by whom she becomes the mother of Uranus and Gaia, though she may have instead been the mother of Phanes. In an account likely derived from an Orphic cosmogony, Nyx gives birth to a "wind-egg", from which Eros emerges.<ref>], '']'' .</ref> In later sources, she is mentioned as the mother of the Stars (by Uranus?),<ref>Morand, p. 331; ''] to the Stars'' (7), .</ref> and, in one account, is described as the daughter of Eros.<ref>Meisner, p. 172; '']'', 14&ndash;5 (Vian, p. 75).</ref>

Nox, the Roman equivalent of Nyx, also features in several genealogies given by Roman authors. According to ], Aether and ] (Day) were the children of Nox and Erebus, in addition to Amor (Love), Dolus (Guile), Metus (Fear), Labor (Toil), Invidentia (Envy), Fatum (Fate), Senectus (Old Age), Mors (Death), Tenebrae (Darkness), Miseria (Misery), Querella (Lamentation), Gratia (Favour), Fraus (Fraud), Pertinacia (Obstinacy), the Parcae, the Hesperides (Daughters of Hesperus), and the Somnia (Dreams).<ref>], '']'' .</ref> In the genealogy given by the Roman mythographer ], Nox is one of the offspring of Chaos and Caligo (Mist), alongside Dies and Erebus. With Erebus, she produces Fatum (Fate), Senectus (Old Age), Mors (Death), Letum (Destruction), Continentia (Strife), Somnus (Sleep), the Somnia (Dreams), Lysimeles (Thoughtfulness), Epiphron (Hedymeles), Porphyrion, Epaphus, Discordia (Discord), Miseria (Misery), Petulantia (Petulance), Nemesis, Euphrosyne (Cheerfulness), Amicitia (Friendship), Misericordia (Pity), ], the Parcae (Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos), and the Hesperides (Aegle, Hesperia, and Erythea).<ref>], '']'' Theogony 1 (; ).</ref> Several other Roman sources mention Nox as the mother of the Furies, with ] sometimes given as the father.<ref>], '']'' , , ; ], '']'' .</ref> In a much later Greek source, Nyx was apparently considered to be the mother of the Moirai by ].<ref>Smith, ; ] on ]'s ''Alexandra'', .</ref>


== Mythology and literature == == Mythology and literature ==
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===Hesiod=== ===Hesiod===
In ]'s '']'', Nyx is born of ].<ref>], '']'' ; Gantz, p. 4; Hard, ; Fowler, ; Caldwell, p. 6</ref> With ] (Darkness), Nyx gives birth to ] (Brightness) and ] (Day).<ref>Hesiod, ''Theogony'' ; Gantz, p. 4; Smith, </ref> Later, on her own, Nyx gives birth to ] (Doom, Destiny), ] (Destruction, Death), ] (Death), ] (Sleep), the ] (Dreams), ] (Blame), ] (Pain, Distress), the ], the ] (Fates), the ], ] (Indignation, Retribution), ] (Deceit), ] (Love), ] (Old Age), and ] (Strife).<ref> Gantz, pp. 4–5 (which includes the translations given here); Hesiod, ''Theogony'' .</ref>

In his description of ], Hesiod locates there the home of Nyx,<ref>Hesiod, ''Theogony'' </ref> and the homes of her children Hypnos and Thanatos.<ref>Hesiod, ''Theogony'' </ref> Hesiod says further that Nyx's daughter Hemera (Day) left Tartarus just as Nyx (Night) entered it; continuing cyclicly, when Hemera returned, Nyx left.<ref>Hesiod, ''Theogony'' </ref> In his description of ], Hesiod locates there the home of Nyx,<ref>Hesiod, ''Theogony'' </ref> and the homes of her children Hypnos and Thanatos.<ref>Hesiod, ''Theogony'' </ref> Hesiod says further that Nyx's daughter Hemera (Day) left Tartarus just as Nyx (Night) entered it; continuing cyclicly, when Hemera returned, Nyx left.<ref>Hesiod, ''Theogony'' </ref>


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] at the side of the Prophet ]]] ] at the side of the Prophet ]]]


In several fragmentary poems attributed to ], Nyx, rather than Chaos, is the first principle from which all creation emerges.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}} Nyx occupies a cave or ], in which she gives ]s. ] – who is chained within, asleep and drunk on honey – dreams and prophesies. Outside the cave, ] clashes cymbals and beats upon her ], moving the entire universe in an ecstatic dance to the rhythm of Nyx's chanting. ] was the child{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} or father of Nyx. Nyx is also the first principle in the opening chorus of ]' '']'', which is a parody of an Orphic cosmogony. Here she is also the mother of ].<ref>], '']'' .</ref> In several fragmentary poems attributed to ], Nyx, rather than Chaos, is the first principle from which all creation emerges.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}} Nyx occupies a cave or ], in which she gives ]s. ] – who is chained within, asleep and drunk on honey – dreams and prophesies. Outside the cave, ] clashes cymbals and beats upon her ], moving the entire universe in an ecstatic dance to the rhythm of Nyx's chanting. ] was the child{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} or father of Nyx. Nyx is also the first principle in the opening chorus of ]' '']'', which may be Orphic in inspiration. Here she is also the mother of ].<ref>], '']'' ; Smith, .</ref>


The theme of Nyx's cave or mansion, beyond the ocean (as in Hesiod) or somewhere at the edge of the ] (as in later Orphism), may be echoed in the philosophical poem of ]. The classical scholar ] has speculated that the house of the goddess to which the philosopher is transported is the palace of Nyx. The theme of Nyx's cave or mansion, beyond the ocean (as in Hesiod) or somewhere at the edge of the ] (as in later Orphism), may be echoed in the philosophical poem of ]. The classical scholar ] has speculated that the house of the goddess to which the philosopher is transported is the palace of Nyx.

According to the Roman mythographer ], Nyx's Roman equivalent Nox (Night) was, along with ] (Brightness), ], and ], the offspring of Chaos and Caligio (Mist).<ref>], '']'' Theogony 1 (Smith and Trzaskoma, p. 95).</ref> In ]'s '']'', Nox is said to be the mother of the ] by ].<ref>], '']'' (mother of the "Eumenides" another name for the Furies), (Allecto a daughter of Pluto and Night), (Night mother of the Furies).</ref>

In some accounts, ], the goddess of witchcraft, was also called the daughter of Night.<ref>]st on ], '']'' 3.467 with the ] as the authority.</ref>


Some authors made Nyx the mother of ], the ], who was often conflated with Nyx's daughter Hemera.<ref>], ; cf. ], '']'' </ref> When Eos' son ] was killed during the ], Eos made ] (the ]) downcast, and asked Nyx to come out earlier so that she would collect her son's dead body undetected by the Greek and the Trojan armies.<ref>], '']'' </ref> Some authors made Nyx the mother of ], the ], who was often conflated with Nyx's daughter Hemera.<ref>], ; cf. ], '']'' </ref> When Eos' son ] was killed during the ], Eos made ] (the ]) downcast, and asked Nyx to come out earlier so that she would collect her son's dead body undetected by the Greek and the Trojan armies.<ref>], '']'' </ref>
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== Worship == == Worship ==
Nyx was worshiped by the early Orphic people. Their hymns portray her as the parent of all life.{{cn|date=June 2023}} Her offerings consist of black animals that were burned and buried. Nyx was worshiped by the early Orphic people. Their hymns portray her as the parent of all life.{{cn}} Her offerings consist of black animals that were burned and buried.


==Astronomy== ==Astronomy==
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== References == == References ==
⚫ * ], ''Birds''. ''The Complete Greek Drama.'' ''vol. 2''. Eugene O'Neill, Jr. New York. Random House. 1938.
* ], '']'' in ''Oresteia: Agamemnon. Libation-Bearers. Eumenides'', edited and translated by Alan H. Sommerstein, ] No. 146, Cambridge, Massachusetts, ], 2009. {{ISBN|978-0-674-99628-1}}. .
⚫ * ], and Benjamin M. Wolkow, ''The Orphic Hymns'', Johns Hopkins University Press, 2013) {{ISBN|978-1-4214-0882-8}}. .
⚫ * ], '']'' in ''The Complete Greek Drama, vol. 2.'', Eugene O'Neill, Jr., New York, Random House, 1938. .
⚫ * ] (2013), ''Early Greek Mythography: Volume 2: Commentary'', Oxford University Press, 2013. {{ISBN|978-0198147411}}.
⚫ * ], and Benjamin M. Wolkow, ''The Orphic Hymns'', Johns Hopkins University Press, 2013. {{ISBN|978-1-4214-0882-8}}. . .
* ''Brill’s New Pauly: Encyclopaedia of the Ancient World. Antiquity, Volume 9'', Mini-Obe, editors: Hubert Cancik, Helmuth Schneider, ], 2006. {{ISBN|978-90-04-12272-7}}. .
* Campbell, David A., ''Greek Lyric, Volume IV: Bacchylides, Corinna'', ] No. 461, Cambridge, Massachusetts, ], 1992. {{ISBN|978-0-674-99508-6}}. .
* ], '']'' in ''Cicero: On the Nature of the Gods. Academics'', translated by H. Rackham, ] No. 268, Cambridge, Massachusetts, ], first published 1933, revised 1951. {{ISBN|978-0-674-99296-2}}. . .
* Chrysanthou, Anthi, ''Defining Orphism: The Beliefs, the Teletae and the Writings'', ], 2020. {{ISBN|978-3-110-67839-0}}. .
* ] (1925b), ''Zeus: A Study in Ancient Religion, Volume II: Zeus God of the Dark Sky (Thunder and Lightning), Part II: Appendixes and Index'', Cambridge University Press, 1925. .
⚫ * ] (2013), ''Early Greek Mythography: Volume 2: Commentary'', Oxford University Press, 2013. {{ISBN|978-0-198-14741-1}}. .
* Gantz, ''Early Greek Myth: A Guide to Literary and Artistic Sources'', Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, Two volumes: {{ISBN|978-0-8018-5360-9}} (Vol. 1), {{ISBN|978-0-8018-5362-3}} (Vol. 2). * Gantz, ''Early Greek Myth: A Guide to Literary and Artistic Sources'', Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, Two volumes: {{ISBN|978-0-8018-5360-9}} (Vol. 1), {{ISBN|978-0-8018-5362-3}} (Vol. 2).
* ], ''The Dictionary of Classical Mythology'', Wiley-Blackwell, 1996. {{ISBN|978-0-631-20102-1}}. . * ], ''The Dictionary of Classical Mythology'', Wiley-Blackwell, 1996. {{ISBN|978-0-631-20102-1}}. .
* Hard, Robin, ''The Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology: Based on H.J. Rose's "Handbook of Greek Mythology"'', Psychology Press, 2004, {{ISBN|9780415186360}}. . * Hard, Robin (2004), ''The Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology: Based on H.J. Rose's "Handbook of Greek Mythology"'', Psychology Press, 2004, {{ISBN|9780415186360}}. .
* ], '']'', in ''The Homeric Hymns and Homerica with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White'', Cambridge, Massachusetts, ]; London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1914. . . * ], '']'', in ''The Homeric Hymns and Homerica with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White'', Cambridge, Massachusetts, ]; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. .
* ], '']'', in ''Hesiod, Theogony, Works and Days, Testimonia'', edited and translated by ], ] No. 57, Cambridge, Massachusetts, ], 2018. {{ISBN|978-0-674-99720-2}}. .
* ], ''The Iliad with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, Ph.D. in two volumes''. Cambridge, Massachusetts, ]; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. . * ], ''The Iliad with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, Ph.D. in two volumes''. Cambridge, Massachusetts, ]; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. .
* ], '']'' in ''Apollodorus' ''Library'' and Hyginus' ''Fabulae'': Two Handbooks of Greek Mythology, Translated, with Introductions by R. Scott Smith and Stephen M. Trzaskoma'', Hackett Publishing Company, 2007. {{ISBN|978-0-87220-821-6}}.
* ], ], '']'', revised and augmented throughout by Sir Henry Stuart Jones with the assistance of Roderick McKenzie, ] Oxford, 1940. .
* ], ''Hygini Fabulae'', edited by ], Leiden, Sijthoff, 1934. .
* ], ''Alexandra'' in in ''Callimachus, Lycophron, Aratus, Hymns and Epigrams. Lycophron: Alexandra. Aratus: Phaenomena'', translated by A. W. Mair and G. R. Mair, ] No. 129, Cambridge, Massachusetts, ], 1921. {{ISBN|978-0-674-99143-9}}. .
* Meisner, Dwayne A., ''Orphic Tradition and the Birth of the Gods'', ], 2018. {{ISBN|978-0-190-66352-0}}. . .
* Morand, Anne-France, ''Études sur les Hymnes Orphiques'', ], 2001. {{ISBN|978-900-4-12030-3}}. .
* ], '']'', A. J. Boyle, R. D. Woodard (translators); ], 2000. {{ISBN|978-0140446906}}. * ], '']'', A. J. Boyle, R. D. Woodard (translators); ], 2000. {{ISBN|978-0140446906}}.
* ], ''], Volume I: Books 1-8'', translated by Frank Justus Miller, revised by G. P. Goold, ] No. 42, Cambridge, Massachusetts, ], 1977, first published 1916. {{ISBN|978-0-674-99046-3}}. . * ], ''Description of Greece'' with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918.
* ], ''Poetae Melici Graeci'', Oxford University Press, 1962. {{ISBN|978-0-198-14333-8}}.
* ], ''Pausanias Description of Greece with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes'', Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1918. .
* ], '']'' in ''Tragedies, Volume I: Hercules. Trojan Women. Phoenician Women. Medea. Phaedra'', edited and translated by John G. Fitch, ] No. 61, Cambridge, Massachusetts, , 2018. {{ISBN|978-0-674-99717-2}}. .
* Smith, Scott R., and Stephen M. Trzaskoma, ''Apollodorus' ''Library'' and Hyginus' ''Fabulae'': Two Handbooks of Greek Mythology'', Hackett Publishing, Indianapolis/Cambridge, 2007. {{ISBN|978-0-87220-821-6}}. .
* ], ''Quintus Smyrnaeus: The Fall of Troy'', translated by A.S. Way, Cambridge, Massachusetts, ], 1913. . * ], ''Quintus Smyrnaeus: The Fall of Troy'', translated by A.S. Way, Cambridge, Massachusetts, ], 1913. .
* ], '']'', London (1873). . * ] (ed.), '']'', London, 1873.
* ], '']'', Theodore C. Williams. trans. Boston. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1910. .
* ], ''Crowell's Handbook of Classical Mythology'', Thomas Y. Crowell Co; First edition (June 1970). {{ISBN|0-690-22608-X}}. .
* ], ''Scolia eis Lycophroon'', edited by Christian Gottfried Müller, Sumtibus F.C.G. Vogelii, 1811. .
* Vian, Francis, ''Les Argonautiques orphiques'', Paris, ], 2003. {{ISBN|978-2-25100-389-4}}.
* ], '']'', edited and translated by Theodore C. Williams, Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1910. .
* ], ''The Orphic Poems'', ] Oxford, 1983. {{ISBN|978-0-19-814854-8}}.


== External links == == External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Nyx}} * {{Commons category-inline|Nyx}}
*
*


{{Greek religion|state=collapsed}} {{Greek religion|state=collapsed}}

Revision as of 12:05, 19 June 2023

Ancient Greek goddess of the night For the water spirit Nix, see Neck (water spirit). For the suffix "-nyx", meaning "claw", see List of commonly used taxonomic affixes. For other uses, see Nyx (disambiguation).
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Nyx
Goddess and personification of the night
La Nuit by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1884)
AbodeTartarus
Genealogy
ParentsChaos
SiblingsErebus
ConsortErebus
ChildrenAccording to Hesiod:
With Erebus: Aether, Hemera.
Without a father: Moros, Ker, Thanatos, Hypnos, the Oneiroi, Momus, Oizys, the Hesperides, the Moirai, the Keres, Nemesis, Apate, Philotes, Geras and Eris.
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RomanNox
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Nyx (/nɪks/ NIX; Template:Lang-grc Nýx, Template:IPA-grc, "Night") is the Greek goddess and personification of night. A shadowy figure, Nyx stood at or near the beginning of creation and mothered other personified deities, such as Hypnos (Sleep) and Thanatos (Death), with Erebus (Darkness). In Hesiod's Theogony, she is produced from Chaos.

She is typically portrayed as either a winged goddess with a dark cloud halo or dressed in black surrounded by dark mist. Her Roman equivalent is Nox (Night).

Mythology and literature

Roman-era bronze statuette of Nyx velificans or Selene (Getty Villa)

Hesiod

In Hesiod's Theogony, Nyx is born of Chaos. With Erebus (Darkness), Nyx gives birth to Aether (Brightness) and Hemera (Day). Later, on her own, Nyx gives birth to Moros (Doom, Destiny), Ker (Destruction, Death), Thanatos (Death), Hypnos (Sleep), the Oneiroi (Dreams), Momus (Blame), Oizys (Pain, Distress), the Hesperides, the Moirai (Fates), the Keres, Nemesis (Indignation, Retribution), Apate (Deceit), Philotes (Love), Geras (Old Age), and Eris (Strife).

In his description of Tartarus, Hesiod locates there the home of Nyx, and the homes of her children Hypnos and Thanatos. Hesiod says further that Nyx's daughter Hemera (Day) left Tartarus just as Nyx (Night) entered it; continuing cyclicly, when Hemera returned, Nyx left.

Homer

In the Iliad of Homer, Hypnos, the minor deity of sleep, reminds Hera of an old favor after she asks him to put Zeus to sleep. He had once before put Zeus to sleep at the bidding of Hera, allowing her to cause Heracles (who was returning by sea from Laomedon's Troy) great misfortune. Zeus was furious and would have cast Hypnos into the sea if he had not fled to Nyx, his mother, in fear. Hypnos goes on to say that Zeus, fearing Nyx's anger, held his fury at bay and in this way he escaped the wrath of Zeus by appealing to his powerful mother. He disturbed Zeus only a few times after that, always fearing Zeus and running back to his mother, Nyx, who would have confronted Zeus with maternal fury. This tale is often cited as evidence that Zeus is fearful of Nyx.

Others

Nyx, as represented in the 10th-century Paris Psalter at the side of the Prophet Isaiah

In several fragmentary poems attributed to Orpheus, Nyx, rather than Chaos, is the first principle from which all creation emerges. Nyx occupies a cave or adyton, in which she gives oracles. Cronus – who is chained within, asleep and drunk on honey – dreams and prophesies. Outside the cave, Adrasteia clashes cymbals and beats upon her tympanon, moving the entire universe in an ecstatic dance to the rhythm of Nyx's chanting. Phanes was the child or father of Nyx. Nyx is also the first principle in the opening chorus of Aristophanes' The Birds, which may be Orphic in inspiration. Here she is also the mother of Eros.

The theme of Nyx's cave or mansion, beyond the ocean (as in Hesiod) or somewhere at the edge of the cosmos (as in later Orphism), may be echoed in the philosophical poem of Parmenides. The classical scholar Walter Burkert has speculated that the house of the goddess to which the philosopher is transported is the palace of Nyx.

According to the Roman mythographer Hyginus, Nyx's Roman equivalent Nox (Night) was, along with Aether (Brightness), Dies (Day), and Erebus, the offspring of Chaos and Caligio (Mist). In Virgil's Aeneid, Nox is said to be the mother of the Furies by Hades.

In some accounts, Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft, was also called the daughter of Night.

Some authors made Nyx the mother of Eos, the dawn goddess, who was often conflated with Nyx's daughter Hemera. When Eos' son Memnon was killed during the Trojan War, Eos made Helios (the sun god) downcast, and asked Nyx to come out earlier so that she would collect her son's dead body undetected by the Greek and the Trojan armies.

Cult

There was no known temple dedicated to Nyx, but statues are known to have been made of her and a few cult practices of her are mentioned. According to Pausanias, she had an oracle on the acropolis at Megara. Pausanias wrote:

When you have ascended the citadel , which even at the present day is called Karia (Caria) from Kar (Car), son of Phoroneus, you see a temple of Dionysos Nyktelios (Nyctelius, Nocturnal), a sanctuary built to Aphrodite Epistrophia (She who turns men to love), an oracle called that of Nyx (Night) and a temple of Zeus Konios (Cronius, Dusty) without a roof.

More often, Nyx was worshipped in the background of other cults. Thus there was a statue called "Night" in the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. The Spartans had a cult of Sleep and Death, conceived of as twins. Cult titles composed of compounds of nyx- are attested for several deities, most notably Dionysus Nyktelios "nocturnal" and Aphrodite Philopannyx "who loves the whole night".

Roman authors mentioned cult practices and wrote hymns in the honor of their equivalent goddess Nox (Night). Ovid wrote: "May 9 Lemuria Nefastus. You ancient rite will be performed, Nox Lemuria; here will be offerings to the mute dead", and she is also mentioned by Statius:

O Nox . . . Ever shall this house throughout the circling periods of the year hold thee high in honour and in worship; black bulls of chosen beauty shall pay thee sacrifice , O goddess! And Vulcanus' fire shall eat the lustral entrails, where-o'er the new milk streams.

Worship

Nyx was worshiped by the early Orphic people. Their hymns portray her as the parent of all life. Her offerings consist of black animals that were burned and buried.

Astronomy

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On June 21, 2006, the International Astronomical Union renamed one of Pluto's recently discovered moons (S/2005 P 2) Nix, in honor of Nyx. The name was spelled with an "i" instead of a "y", to avoid conflict with the asteroid 3908 Nyx.

Notes

  1. Oxford dictionary
  2. νύξ. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project.
  3. Grimal, s.v. Nyx, p. 314.
  4. Gantz, pp. 4–10; Hard, pp. 23–31.
  5. Hesiod, Theogony 116–124; Gantz, p. 4; Hard, p. 24; Fowler, p. 5; Caldwell, p. 6
  6. Hesiod, Theogony 124–125; Gantz, p. 4; Smith, s.v. Nyx
  7. Gantz, pp. 4–5 (which includes the translations given here); Hesiod, Theogony 212–225.
  8. Hesiod, Theogony 744–745
  9. Hesiod, Theogony 758–759
  10. Hesiod, Theogony 746–750
  11. Homer, Iliad 14.249–261.
  12. Aristophanes, Birds 693–698; Smith, s.v. Nyx.
  13. Hyginus, Fabulae Theogony 1 (Smith and Trzaskoma, p. 95).
  14. Virgil, Aeneid 6.250 (mother of the "Eumenides" another name for the Furies), 7.323–330 (Allecto a daughter of Pluto and Night), 12.845–846 (Night mother of the Furies).
  15. Scholiast on Apollonius of Rhodes, Argonautica 3.467 with the Orphic hymns as the authority.
  16. Quintus Smyrnaeus, 2.625–26; cf. Aeschylus, Agamemnon 265
  17. Philostratus of Lemnos, Imagines 1.7.2
  18. Pausanias, 1.40.1
  19. Pausanias, 1.40.6
  20. Pausanias, 10.38.6
  21. Pausanias, 3.18.1
  22. Pausanias, 1.40.6
  23. Orphic Hymn 55 to Aphrodite 3 (Athanassakis & Wolkow, p. 46).
  24. Ovid, Fasti 5.421–422 (trans.Boyle)
  25. Thebaid 1. 497 ff (trans. Mozley)

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