It was Thanatos’ sister, Keres, the primordial spirit of slaughter and disease, who’s often seen as a blood-thirsty and haunting figure. Thanatos was thought to be the spirit of non-violent death known for his gentle touch, similar to that of his brother Hypnos, the primordial deity of Sleep. But the majority of these deities, Thanatos included, are far from evil. The fear of death and the inevitable is why these figures are demonized. When deities are associated with death, they are often assumed to be evil. Hypnos and Thanatos – Sleep and His Half-Brother Death by John William Waterhouse, 1874. Sometimes, he’s portrayed holding a scythe – a figure resembling what we consider today to be the Grim Reaper. He often appears as a man with wings wearing a dark cloak. He can be seen making a few rare appearances in early Greek artwork. However, Thanatos is somewhat of an exception. Like many of the primordial beings, his mother Nyx, the goddess of Night, and his father, Erebus, the god of Darkness, are often thought to represent concepts rather than physical figures. He was amongst the first generation of gods. Thanatos doesn’t play a huge part in Greek mythology. However, it’s the primordial deity known as Thanatos who is death personified. Being the ruler of the Underworld, Hades normally deals with death but is the god of the dead. Quite often, in Greek mythology, Hades is mistaken to be the god of death. Thanatos was not a god, but rather a daimon or death’s personified spirit whose gentle touch would make a soul pass away in peace. When translated to Greek, his name literally means death. Thanatos, the Greek personification of Death, is an embodiment of non-violent and peaceful passing. Thanatos in Modern Day Medicine and Psychology.The Depiction and Symbolism of Thanatos.The Role of Thanatos in Greek Mythology.
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