#Thanatos deity

[wingedfoolnearthesun]

i’m an Apollon devotee, of course i’ve always had a weak immune system during my childhood years.

i’m an Apollon devotee, of course i’ve always used music as an escape mechanism.

i’m an Apollon devotee, of course i use music as my main inspiration for stories and daydreams.

i’m an Apollon devotee, of course the reason i ruined my eyesight was because i was obsessed with staring straight into the sun on my way to school.

i’m an Apollon devotee, of course i’m a lover of the arts despite not being good at them.

i’m an Apollon devotee, of course i had an insane burst of inspiration after years of writer’s block.

i’m an Apollon devotee, of course i’m constantly blinded by the sun whilst waiting for the bus.

i’m an Apollon devotee, of course my favorite flowers are sunflowers and hyacinths.

i’m an Apollon devotee, of course i love to sing every chance i get and repeat lyrics and words until everyone around me’s irritated.

[chthonioi]

Hypnos & Thanatos by ofensky

[sunkissed-psyche]

THANATOS: AN INFODUMP

Thanatos (Θανατος) known to the romans as Mors is the god or daimon (personified spirit) of non-violent death. He is a chthonic deity residing in the underworld.

This post covers his family, symbols, notable myths, epithets, orphic hymn, and my favourite passages about him.

PARENTAGE AND SIBLINGS

His parentage and family can be understood through Hesiod’s Theogony (A Greek epic written in the 8th or 7th B.C)

And Nyx (Night) bare hateful Moros (Doom) and black Ker (Violent Death) and Thanatos (Death), and she bare Hypnos (Sleep) and the tribe of Oneiroi (Dreams). And again the goddess murky Nyx, though she lay with none, bare Momos (Blame) and painful Oizys (Misery), and the Hesperides . . . Also she bare the Moirai (Moirae, Fates) and the ruthless avenging Keres (Death-Fates) . . . Also deadly Nyx bare Nemesis (Envy) to afflict mortal men, and after her, Apate (Deceit) and Philotes (Friendship) and hateful Geras (Old Age) and hard-hearted Eris (Strife).

— Parents: Nyx with no father (Roman versions of his birth name Erebus the father)

— Siblings:

Apate (deceit)

Eris (strife)

Geras (old age)

Hesperides (nymphs of the evening)

Hypnos (sleep) Ker (violent death)

Keres (death-fates)

Moirai (fates)

Momos (blame)

Moros (doom)

Nemesis (retribution)

Oizys (misery)

Oneiroi (dreams)

Philotes (friendship)

SYMBOLS AND APPEARANCE

SYMBOLS

— inverted torch → represents a life being extinguished

— butterfly → symbolises the soul

— sword → indicates his authority to sever the thread of life

— poppies → as a symbol of eternal sleep

— wreath → suggesting eternity, or the cyclical nature of life and death

APPEARANCE

Greek vase paintings depicted him as a winged, older man with a beard and rarely as a young, beardless youth.

Roman sculptures portrayed him as a youth holding an inverted torch and a wreath or butterfly

NOTABLE MYTHS

— THANATOS AND THE BODY OF SARPEDON

As seen in the Iliad, Thanatos and Hypnos are tasked to carry the body of Sarpedon away from the battlefield to Lycia so his brothers and countrymen can give him a respectful burial.

Homer, Iliad 16. 453 ff (trans. Lattimore) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) : "[Hera speaks to Zeus about the approaching death of his son Sarpedon :] ‘But after the soul and the years of his life have left him [Sarpedon], then send Thanatos (Death) to carry him away, and Hypnos (Sleep), who is painless, until they come with him to the countryside of broad Lykia (Lycia) where his brothers and countrymen shall give him due burial with tomb and gravestone.’"

Homer, Iliad 16. 681 ff : "Then [Apollon] gave him [Sarpedon] into the charge of swift messengers to carry him, of Hypnos (Sleep) and Thanatos (Death), who are twin brothers, and these two presently laid him down within the rich countryside of broad Lykia (Lycia)."

— THE CAPTURE OF THANATOS BY SISYPHUS

Sisyphus was the (possibly) founder and king of Corinth and was known as ‘the craftiest on men’ in texts by Homer. In the myth, Thanatos was sent to carry Sisyphus into the underworld. Upon Thanatos’ arrival, Sisyphus who was hiding chained him and in doing do, suspended death across the entire world. Thanatos was later freed by Ares who had noticed an absence of death from the battlefield

Alcaeus, Fragment 38a (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric I) (Greek lyric C6th B.C.) : "King Sisyphos (Sisyphus), son of Aiolos (Aeolus), wisest of men, supposed that he was master of Thanatos (Death); but despite his cunning he crossed eddying Akheron (Acheron) twice at at fate's command."

Aeschylus, Sisyphus the Runaway (lost play) (Greek tragedy C5th B.C.) : Weir Smyth (L.C.L.) quotes from Pherecydes, a C5th B.C. mythographer, in his discussion of the plot of this lost play: "The drama was satyric; its theme, the escape from Haides of the crafty Korinthian king. According to the fabulous story told by Pherekydes (Frag. 78 in Müller,Fragmenta Historicum Graecorum) Sisyphos made known to Asopos that it was Zeus who had carried off his daughter Aigina; in punishment for which offence the god sent Thanatos (Death) against the babbler; but Sisyphos bound Thanatos (Death) fast, so that men ceased to die, until Ares came to the rescue, released Thanatos, and gave Sisyphos into his power."

— THANATOS WRESTLED BY HERACLES

In the Euripides, a Greek tragedy written in the 5th C B.C. Thanatos is wrestled by Heracles to save the life of Alkestis. Heracles does this to repay Admetos, Alklestis’

Euripides, Alcestis 839 ff : "Herakles : I must save this woman who has died so lately, bring Alkestis back to live in this house and pay Admetos all the kindness that I owe. I must go there [to the funeral at the graveside] and watch for Thanatos (Death) of the black robes (melampeplos), master of dead men (anax nekrôn), and I think I shall find him drinking the blood of slaughtered beasts beside the grave. Then, if I can break suddenly from my hiding place, catch him, and hold him in the circle of these arms, there is no way he will be able to break my hold on his bruised ribs, until he gives the woman up to me. But if I miss my quarry, if he does not come to the clotted offering, I must go down, I must ask Kore (Core, the Maiden) [Persephone] and the Master (Anax) [Haides] in the sunless homes of those below (domos anêlios)."

EPITHETS

Greek

- Paean -> the healing (delivers men from the pains and sorrows of life)

- Melampeplos -> of the black robes

- Anax Nekron -> master of dead men

English (these are ones I've derived from text so partial upg)

- insatiable

- dreadful/dreaded one

- awful god

- with a heart of iron

- without mercy

Latin

- Acherontis - inflicter of Acheron (woe)

ORPHIC HYMN

The Fumigation from Manna. Hear me, O Death [Thanatos], whose empire unconfined, extends to mortal tribes of every kind. On thee, the portion of our time depends, whose absence lengthens life, whose presence ends. Thy sleep perpetual bursts the vivid folds, by which the soul, attracting body holds: Common to all of every sex and age, for nought escapes thy all-destructive rage; Not youth itself thy clemency can gain, vigorous and strong, by thee untimely slain. In thee, the end of nature's works is known, in thee, all judgment is absolved alone: No suppliant arts thy dreadful rage control, no vows revoke the purpose of thy soul; O blessed power regard my ardent prayer, and human life to age abundant spare.

MY FAVOURITE MISC. COLLECTION OF TEXTS

Hesiod, Theogony 758 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) : . . . These are Hypnos (Sleep) and Thanatos (Death), dread divinities. Never upon them does Helios, the shining sun, cast the light of his eye-beams, neither when he goes up the sky nor comes down from it. One of these [Hypnos], across the earth and the wide sea-ridges, goes his way quietly back and forth, and is kind to mortals, but the heart of the other one [Thanatos] is iron, and brazen feelings without pity are inside his breast."

Aeschylus, Fragment 82 Niobe (from Stobaeus, Anthology 4. 51. 1) (trans. Weir Smyth) (Greek tragedy C5th B.C.) : "For, alone of gods, Thanatos (Death) loves not gifts; no, not by sacrifice, nor by libation, canst thou aught avail with him; he hath no altar nor hath he hymn of praise; from him, alone of gods, Peitho (Persuasion) stands aloof."

Aeschylus, Fragment 141 Philoctetes (from Stobaeus, Anthology 4. 52. 32) : "[The wounded Philoktetes (Philoctetes) laments :] ‘O Death (thanatos), the healer (paian), reject me not, but come! For thou alone art the mediciner of ills incurable, and no pain layeth hold on the dead.’"

[boofindoopin]

I rant at 5 in the morning tehe

I’ve been seeing a rise of people getting upset at the fact that people are acting like the gods are our imaginary friends, and not deities that deserve worship and respect. Which, I totally agree with. I absolutely hate it when people act like our religion is a silly little fandom that they can make up their own factoids.

But, at the same time, I think many people in the community who have more serious worship styles, are forgetting that not everyone does.

When the posts are saying “the gods aren’t your friends” or something along the lines of that, really just completely disregards people who have more casual, more friend like relationships with their deities! I treat Thanatos more as a friend than anything.

I am still respectful, I don’t call him any of the things I would call my best friend, (because me and my irl friends call eachother gay bastards) but, I do silly shit with him, as I would with a friend. I’ve also asked him if he wanted me to start being less casual, and he immediately said no. He likes the bond we have.

I take on a more serious approach with Lord Ares and Lady Aphrodite. I feel it suits them better. I don’t think I could say some of the things I say to Thanatos to Ares or Aphrodite (once I stuck my tounge out at him because he wouldn’t let me sing him happy birthday. I apologize don’t worry, he laughed at me and said it was funny. I feel bad about it still 😭) but to me it’s the difference between the way you talk to your friend and the way you talk to a mentor/guardian.

I think @khaire-traveler made a similar point to me. Anyways, my point is. Yes, I agree it is annoying how people outside of the community (and inside sometimes) disrespect the gods and treat the religion as fandom. But, I do think we need to remember that not all of us worship the same :)

[jsraven7]

I got ordained yesterday as a devotional act towards Lady Hera and Lord Thanatos, so I can aid people in getting married and in funerals. I would love to conduct services for pagan/polytheistic weddings and funerals, but unfortunately I’m just not quite sure that’s realistic. Maybe one day.

[whispereddeathworship]

Do not tell me that Thanatos hates humanity,

for how is death to hate us if He is there to greet us at the end

Do not tell me that Thanatos hates humanity,

for how is death to hate us if He stays with our bones as they decay

Do not tell me that Thanatos hates humanity,

for how is death to hate us when He holds us in our grief

[khthonicdove]

current khthonic altar!!! i’m in love 🥰

[poorbrokemess]

PSA

Offerings don't have to be huge.

I also want to say, for any who have seen mine and others posts where we *speak* to our gods or deities. You don't, so you think you're doing it wrong?

For me, and most, this is not an actual conversation. But more of an internal understanding. Internal conversations. Liberties taken. We are often wrong. That's okay.

The gods know we are human. And expect human mistakes.

You need not make huge elaborate alters.

Just time. Time love care. Same as you or I.

[mars-and-the-theoi]

I made these to help me get back into things!!!

(They were made on shuffles)

[khaire-traveler]

There is something so beautiful and sweet to me about the fact that Thanatos is the god of peaceful death.

When I die, I want Death to greet me as an old, childhood friend - unknown yet so familiar, intimidating yet so comforting. I want Death to take me gently by the hand, whisper in my ear, "It'll be alright," and help me stand to my feet as I walk towards a new life - a different kind of life - in a place I may have seen in a dream once.

I hope Thanatos greets me, in my final moments, with the softness and sweetness of an old friend. To me, that is peaceful. And it's so beautiful that he is so willing to provide such comforts to humans in their official transition from one plane of existence to the next. How kind, how compassionate, how admirable.

Death is a friend, in the end, and he smiles softly as he takes your hand.

[wingedfoolnearthesun]

last night was proof to me that quiet and quick prayers are just as important as long, spoken-out ones. i was feeling a bit down in the dumps, so i couldn’t find it in me to devote my usual drawn out prayer to each of my deities. i started with a simple apology for that fact and thanked them for their blessings, collectively. i made sure to also thank Lord Hermes for His security and guidance today and devoted my sleeping space to Lord Hypnos for the night.

i felt comforted immediately and was able to get a very good night’s rest. i was being watched over silently.

your deities understand when you’re unable to spend a lot of time, energy, or effort into the things you do for your religion. something i’ve noticed is that taking it casually is just as loved and appreciated as dedicating all your outward energy into the religion. it’s okay to take it slow. it’s okay to take a step back. it’s okay to be low-energy. it’s okay to approach your practice with the smallest and quietest of steps. your deities will continue to watch over you and love you as they always have. just remember to show them the respect they deserve. be kind and gentle on your own soul ♡

[chthonioi]

Hypnos and Thanatos by awanqi

[sleepnowmychild]

MORE HELPOL SLAPS. COVER YOUR CITY

“But graffiti is illegal” so is existing as a trans person in a fuck ton of places, fuck the law when it’s something as harmless as existing and making art baybee.

[boofindoopin]

Thanatos today asked me to draw something for him. A person in particular. I did, duh. When a god asks you to do something you do it. I show him all proudly, I’m pretty proud of this drawing. It’s of one of my brain children (read as: OC that OP is very emotionally attached to)

Thanatos IMMEDIATELY not missing a beat says:

“oh, that’s lovely! May I have one of me?”

anyways my first commissioned drawing was from the God of Death. Match my freak, I dare you.

[booferin]

Digital offering to Lord Thanatos! <3

[chemicalforgery]

Lord Thanatos