Hypnos’ most famous apparition happens in The Iliad when Hera asks him to put Zeus to sleep during the Trojan War. Hypnos gave humans restful sleep and was sometimes asked to trick gods and mortals by putting them to sleep. He was the son of Nyx, the Night, and brother of Thanatos, god of peaceful death. Who were Morpheus and Phobetor? See below (Image: Temple of Athena) Who Was the Greek God of Sleep? This time, Zeus never found out Hypnos was involved in the scheme, so the god of sleep didn’t suffer any punishment.Īlso see Why Are Greek Gods Popular? to learn more. This small contribution from Hypnos turned the tide of the war in favor of the Achaeans, who would eventually be victorious. As Zeus embraced Hera, Hypnos did the job and ran off to talk to Poseidon.Īfter hearing from Hypnos that Zeus was asleep, Poseidon eagerly started helping the Greeks. Then Hera went to meet Zeus, seducing him at the top of a mountain. She eventually convinced Hypnos by offering him marriage with Pasithea, a grace he had loved for a long time. Hera had taken the Aecheans’ side, while Zeus favored the Trojans, and she wanted to distract Zeus so that The Aecheans could receive help without him being there to stop it. Naturally, Hypnos didn’t feel like doing that again. Hypnos barely escaped Zeus’ anger by hiding with her mother, Nyx.ĭuring the Trojan War, Hera asked the same favor. While Zeus was asleep, Hera sent relentless winds at Heracles’ ships. As he was leaving Troy, Hera asked Hypnos to send Zeus to sleep. Hera was spiteful toward Heracles, who was the son of Zeus and Alcmene. Long before the Trojan War, Troy was sacked by Heracles. Zeus was put to sleep at least twice because of Hera’s schemings. So, when someone needed to get around him, putting him to sleep was the only safe option.
Zeus was the undisputed leader and was even more powerful than gods with fighting prowess like Athena, Ares, and Apollo. Greek gods often sneaked around to remain unknown and test mortals, like when Athena disguised herself as an old woman to convince Arachne to plead for forgiveness to the goddess. Gods frequently do it to sneak past someone or induce dreams into mortals so that they do what they wish. Putting gods or humans to sleep is a trick that often appears in Greek mythology. The second time, Hera convinced Hypnos to put him to sleep during the Trojan war so that Poseidon could help the Greeks behind Zeus’ back. The first time, Hera asked Hypnos to put him to sleep so that she could send angry winds at Heracles.
Who was the Greek god of sleep? See below (Image: Athena) Was Zeus Ever Put To Sleep? It’s likely a way of saying Zeus was constantly alert or plotting something.īut if you take the passage literally and assume that gods need to sleep every night, then you’ll run into contradictions with many other texts.Īlso see Why Are Greek Gods Dead? to learn more. Here’s an excellent example: At one point in The Iliad, Homer mentions how Zeus was vigilant while other gods slept. Beds and sleep were a part of the world of Greek gods because it was a part of the world of the humans who told their stories. Myths make frequent references to Zeus and Hera’s marital bed, and there’s an entire scene in The Iliad that happens beside Hephaestus and Aphrodite’s bed. Some myths may show gods sleeping just because it helps tell the story. Greek gods have distinct human traits and are often shown doing human things.
Greek mythology wasn’t just a bunch of stories it reflected how Greeks felt and lived.
However, that doesn’t mean they didn’t sleep at all. It’s not surprising that Greek gods didn’t need to sleep. They had supernatural powers, were immortal, and could shapeshift in an instant. Greek gods weren’t bound to human limitations. Was Zeus Ever Put To Sleep? See below (Image: Zeus and Ganymede) Why Greek Gods Slept Even Though They Didn’t Have To
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