Greek Myths XS: Morpheus' Dream Job

One Greek divinity quite literally had a “dream job”: Morpheus, god of sweet dreams. He was the son of Hypnos, Somnus in latin, who was the god of sleep, hence “hypnosis” and “insomnia”. Morpheus’ mother was the formidable goddess of darkness and night, Nyx. Morpheus’ name means “shapeshifter”, and he could indeed change his “morphology” at will. He was often assigned by the gods to deliver messages or prophecies to humans, and would appear in their dreams in the form of a deceased loved one. Morpheus had a gentle personality, unlike his brothers, who specialised in nightmares and surreal fantasies. Morpheus’ dreams were created in his obsidian cave, guarded by four very relaxed goddesses. It would be stuffed with poppy seeds, from which he derived a pain-relieving medicine, still called “morphine”. At night, the god would walk around, sprinkling the seeds over people’s eyes and putting them to sleep. One of his descendants still fulfills the same ritual, but instead of poppy seeds, he uses sand. Or moondust.

Morpheus awakening as Iris draws near, René Antoine Houasse,

Versailles palace, grand Trianon, France

Hypnos and Ariadne, fresco Pompeï, Italy

Did you know?

• Hypnos’ (Somnus’) cave would have been guarded by the goddesses: Aergia meaning “inactivity/sloth” (contrary to “energia”, meaning “activity”), Hesygia (Quies), meaning “quietness”, Lethe (Oblivia), meaning “forgetfulness” and Akratos (Otia), meaning “ease”.

• According to Ovid, Morpheus had lots of brothers, of whom he names two: Phobetor (“Frightener”) and Phantasos (“Fantasy”).

• About Nyx: cfr. “Nemesis”, “The Living Daylights”.