Thanatos, or Mors in Roman, was the Greek personification of death. He was the son of Nyx, the personification of night, and the twin brother of Hypnos (Somnus in Roman), the personification of sleep.
Thanatos could occasionaly be beated, creating the few myths that he’s actually in.
In one myth, he goes out to get the mortal Sisyphus, but was tricked and shackled, halting all death. This obviously didn’t please Ares, the god of war and bloodshed, so he went and let Thanatos free. Later on, Sisyphus went about tricking Hades and Persephone into letting him back into the world of the living and finally died at an old age. This obviously didn’t make Hades too happy. So, he punished Sisyphus by making him roll a boulder up a hill forever.
In another myth, he wrestles Herakles, or Hercules in Roman. A king named Admetus was supposed to die, but since Apollo kind of liked him he was able to convince the fates that if he could find someone to replace Admetus, he wouldn’t have to die. Shockingly, his parents wouldn’t do it, so Admetus’ wife, Alcestis, goes for him instead. Just after this happened, Herakles just happened to come visit his old pal, Admetus, on his way to another labor. After finding out about Alcestis death, he went into her tomb and wrestled Thanatos until he agreed to let Alcestis go.
Of course, I always thought, “Hm, why would Thanatos even be there is she was already dead?” I find that a lot of Greek myths have plot holes.
Thanatos could occasionaly be beated, creating the few myths that he’s actually in.
In one myth, he goes out to get the mortal Sisyphus, but was tricked and shackled, halting all death. This obviously didn’t please Ares, the god of war and bloodshed, so he went and let Thanatos free. Later on, Sisyphus went about tricking Hades and Persephone into letting him back into the world of the living and finally died at an old age. This obviously didn’t make Hades too happy. So, he punished Sisyphus by making him roll a boulder up a hill forever.
In another myth, he wrestles Herakles, or Hercules in Roman. A king named Admetus was supposed to die, but since Apollo kind of liked him he was able to convince the fates that if he could find someone to replace Admetus, he wouldn’t have to die. Shockingly, his parents wouldn’t do it, so Admetus’ wife, Alcestis, goes for him instead. Just after this happened, Herakles just happened to come visit his old pal, Admetus, on his way to another labor. After finding out about Alcestis death, he went into her tomb and wrestled Thanatos until he agreed to let Alcestis go.
Of course, I always thought, “Hm, why would Thanatos even be there is she was already dead?” I find that a lot of Greek myths have plot holes.
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