Morpheus
Morpheus ( Greek Μορφεύς , from Greek morphe , dt. Gestalt) is a god of dreams ( Oneiroi ) in Greek mythology . He is a son of Hypnos , the god of sleep.
description
It can transform into any shape and appear in dreams. The appearance of bats is also described. In Ovid's Metamorphoses , Morpheus and the brothers Phobetor and Phantasos Oneiroi , the dream demons, are called. Morpheus can take control of all human forms, while Phobetor imitates animals and phantasus forces of nature. The three dream gods mentioned are among the most powerful of the Oneiroi, with Morpheus being the leader. They send their dreams mainly to kings and rulers, in contrast to further brothers, the other dream demons. In doing so, they bring messages from the gods. Morpheus and the Oneiroi are either sons or brothers of Hypnos, thus grandsons or sons of Nyx , the night. His bed is made of ivory and is located in a dark cave. Furthermore, the cave of his father Hypnos or the part of the underworld Erebos is named as the place of residence . In some legend circles he was also worshiped as the god of dying asleep. Its symbol is the opium poppy capsule , from which opium can be made.
The opiate morphine , which was first isolated in 1804, is named after Morpheus . Some researchers believe that the popular sandman is a holdover from this figure.
myth
Hera asks Morpheus' father Hypnos to deliver the news of Keyx's death on the high seas to his wife Alkyone . The sleep god passes this order on to Morpheus, since he can take control of the figure of Keyx in a dream. Morpheus takes the form and delivers the news to Alkyone.
literature
- Karl Tümpel: Morpheus . In: Wilhelm Heinrich Roscher (Hrsg.): Detailed lexicon of Greek and Roman mythology . Volume 2.2, Leipzig 1897, column 3215 ( digitized version ).
- Old World Lexicon . Artemis-Verlag, Munich 1990, Volume 2
- Michael Grant, John Hazel: Lexicon of ancient myths and figures . dtv, 2008, 19th edition.
Individual evidence
- ^ MORPHEUS: Greek God of Dreams. Theoi Project, Aaron J. Atsma, New Zealand, accessed December 23, 2013 .
- ↑ Oneiroi: Gods or Spirits of Dreams. Theoi Project, Aaron J. Atsma, New Zealand, accessed December 23, 2013 .
- ^ Wilhelm Vollmer: Dictionary of the mythology of all peoples . P. 263.
- ^ Declaration ( Memento of June 6, 2012 in the Internet Archive ). Website http://www.cognitiones.de . Retrieved June 16, 2013.
- ↑ Oneiroi: Gods or Spirits of Dreams. Theoi Project, Aaron J. Atsma, New Zealand, accessed December 23, 2013 .
- ^ Alcyone and Ceyx Source: www.greeka.com. greek.com (eng), accessed December 23, 2013 .
Web links
- Morpheus in the Theoi Project (English)