April 30: Spring Month

Some things are so painful or shameful “that they cannot stand the light of day”. This was quite literally the case for the ancient Greeks, who avoided upsetting their “Daylight-goddess” at all cost. Hemera and her brother Aither (Brightness) were the offspring of Erebous (Darkness) and Nyx (Night). Although often confused with Eos, goddess of dawn, her job description was different: to provide the light of day, while her brother held up the bright upper sky. So, every twelve hours, she changed places with her mother Night. Though brightly shining, Hemera was a timid deity, not the flirty type that Eos was. She is mentioned as a rival for Artemis though, in her love for the legendary hunter Orion. In day to day life, Hemera obviously played an important role, and the Greeks would have treated her with the utmost respect and consideration. For example, Hemera couldn’t stand the sight of a dead body, so a burial should take place within three days. No Greek risked to hurt the feelings of Hemera, for it could have – literally – dark consequences.

Hemera, relief Sebasteion complex, Aphrodisias Museum, Türkye

The Night with the Genii of Study and Love, Pedro Americo,

Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisboa, Portugal