| Erebus | ||
| Erebus was known as the
embodiment of primordial darkness, the son of
Chaos (who was
the void from which all things developed, known also as Darkness). According
to Hesiod's Theogony, Erebus was born with
Nyx (Night), and
was the father of
Aether (the bright upper atmosphere) and
Hemera (Day).
Charon, the
ferry-man who took the dead over the rivers of the infernal region, is also
said to be the son of Erebus and Nyx.
Later legend describes Erebus as the Infernal Region below the earth. In this version, Hades was split into two regions: Erebus, which the dead have to pass shortly after they have died, and Tartarus, the deepest region, where the Titans were imprisoned. Aristophanes' Birds says that Erebus and Nyx were also the parents of Eros, the god of love. He is often used metaphorically for Hades itself.
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 Earth Photo Caption |