Nyx, also referenced as Nox or the Night, embodies the concept of night within Greek mythology. Emerging from Chaos, she is classified as a primordial deity (Protogenoi), a term that encompasses the elemental and physical forces of existence, signifying the first generation of divine entities from which all gods, heroes, and beasts of Greek lore are derived.
Though her role in Greek mythology appears somewhat subdued, Nyx wields immense authority, especially highlighted within Homer’s Iliad, where even the formidable Zeus hesitates to confront her.
Typically depicted as a darkly cloaked figure driving a chariot adorned with stars, she takes residence in Tartarus, the abyss of the underworld. In the unique rhythm of their existence, Nyx and her daughter Hemera (representing Day) never encounter each other; they only cross paths as one departs while the other enters. Notable references to Nyx surface in the texts of Hesiod’s Theogony (around 700 BCE) and Homer’s Iliad (circa 750 BCE).
The Creation of the Gods
In his account of creation, Hesiod highlights Nyx numerous times, narrating the origins of Greek deities:
“From Chaos emerged black Night and Erebus. Night then brought forth Day and Space, conceived through love of Erebus.” (1.124-126)
Nyx’s progeny includes a wide range of figures, some benevolent and others malevolent. As per Hesiod’s Theogony (1.209-242), her notable offspring consist of:
- Aether (Light/Radiance) with Erebus
- Hemera (Day) with Erebus
- Eris (Discord and Strife)
- Geras (Old Age) with Erebus
- Nemesis (Retribution) with Erebus
- Hypnos (Sleep) with Erebus
- Oneroi (Dreams)
- Phobeter (Nightmares)
- Thanatos (Death) with Erebus
- The Hesperides (Daughters of the Evening) with Erebus or other variants
- Apate (Deceit) with Erebus
- Moros (Doom) (born without male parentage)
- The twins Oizys (Misery) and Momos (Mockery) with Erebus
- Morae (the Fates) with Erebus.
Orphic Creation Stories
Nyx plays an advisory role to Cronus, son of Uranus, and later to Zeus once he ascends as ruler of the Olympian gods.
Her significance is accentuated within the Orphic creation narratives, associated with the teachings of the mythical Orpheus, who expounded on the world’s essence and fate. These accounts describe how Aether, Chaos, and Erebus emerged from Chronus (the Everlasting Time). Inside Aether, Chronus fashioned an egg, giving birth to Phanes (“To Bring Light”), a radiant entity with golden wings who would then give rise to Nyx and later, Uranus (Heaven). Nyx subsequently continues serving as an advisor to both Cronus and Zeus. Some versions also suggest that Nyx produced an egg from which Phanes and other deities hatched.
Scholarly interpretations indicate that Nyx might hold the title of a supreme deity within ancient Orphic traditions. In Orphic Hymns, Nyx is portrayed as a maternal deity, signifying the origin of both gods and mortals, reaffirming her influential status post-Zeus’s coronation.
The Egg Creation Myth
In Birds, a comedic work by Aristophanes (circa 460 to 380 BCE), Erebus and Nyx are depicted as the primordial divinities hatching an egg from which Eros, the god of love, physically manifests, thus forming the earth. This egg myth echoes components of the Orphic cosmogonic theme, distinguished primarily by the inclusion of deities emerging from eggs.
According to Aristophanes, only Chaos, Night, Erebus, and Tartarus existed initially until Nyx, adorned with dark wings, laid an egg in the vast recesses of Erebus, resulting in the birth of Eros, who then fashioned the cosmos. In Orphic writings, the egg serves as a symbol of the world, underscoring its critical importance in the genesis of deities.
Nyx & Zeus
In the Iliad, Nyx intervenes to save her son Hypnos from Zeus’s rage. Bearer of a deep-seated disdain towards Hercules—born of a mortal (Alcmene)—Hera conceives a scheme to wreck his journey home from Troy, enlisting Hypnos to lull Zeus into slumber. When Zeus awakens, consumed with anger towards Hypnos, it is only Nyx’s formidable presence that prompts him to relent.
“And had she not come to save me from the sea, I would have been erased from sight, such is the power of Night over gods and men.” (Iliad, 14.311-316)
Depictions and Worship
Visual representations of Nyx are scarce in ancient Greek art; however, descriptions of her are prevalent in various literature. She is frequently depicted traversing the skies in a chariot led by two horses, dressed in black, often veiled in darkness with stars trailing behind. Her graceful yet somber appearance is characterized by a black veil or robe, holding an inverted torch in one hand, and a starry veil in the other; she embodies both beauty and solemnity.
While the Orphic texts mention her, indications of actual worship remain limited, with the occasional offering of black animals, particularly cocks, believed to herald dawn while still enveloped in Night.
Pausanias, an ancient Greek traveler and historian (circa 110/125 to 180 CE), recounts the existence of an Oracle of the Night in Megara, alongside a statue of Nyx crafted by Rhoecus, held in the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.
He also describes a notable carving of Nyx in Olympia, signifying her integral connection to the cycle of day and night.
Tartarus
Located in the innermost realms of the underworld, Tartarus serves as Nyx and Hemera’s dwelling place. Hesiod portrays it as encased in a bronze barrier, dubbing it the “gaping mouth of hell”, a region abhorred by the deities. Notably, although both goddesses inhabit Tartarus, they never coexist simultaneously, reflecting the eternal cycle of day and night.
“Endlessly, where Night and Day convene and exchange greetings, one departs as the other arrives.” (Theogony, 1.726-757)
Legacy
Despite her less prominent reputation compared to the twelve Olympian deities, Nyx remains essential within Greek mythology, embodying the essence of Night and one of the earliest divinities acknowledged. Revered for delivering sleep and respite from worldly burdens, she simultaneously provoked fear and dread as a harbinger of darkness and death.
The tradition of naming celestial bodies after mythological figures endures, with the International Astronomical Union (IAU) designating one of Pluto’s moons as “Nix” in tribute to Nyx. Additionally, the renowned cosmetic brand, NYX Professional Makeup, is likewise named after her.
