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Erebos, a MythSource painting
Greek

Erebos

The Primordial Darkness · The Son Of Chaos · Consort Of Nyx

01Identity

Erebos in Greek tradition

As a primordial deity born from Chaos, Erebos embodies the darkness associated with the Underworld. He is also linked with gloom, shadow, obscurity and subterranean darkness, and is represented through the underworld, caverns and the deep shade of primeval night. Erebos joined with Nyx and brought forth Aether, the bright upper air, and Hemera, divine Day, placing daylight after the darkness of their parents.

Top questions

The quick answers

  • Who is Erebos?

    Erebos is a Greek deity associated with primordial darkness; underworld gloom; shadow and obscurity; and subterranean darkness.
    Source

    Source

    • Light and Darkness in Ancient Greek Myth and Religion
    • Greek Mythology: August 2018

  • What is Erebos the god of?

    Erebos is associated with primordial darkness; underworld gloom; shadow and obscurity; and subterranean darkness.
    Source

    Source

    • Light and Darkness in Ancient Greek Myth and Religion

  • What family links are recorded for Erebos?

    Father: Chaos, Mother: Caligo, Spouse: Nyx, 18 children, 2 siblings.
02Family

Erebos’s family, at a glance

ChaosCaligo
ErebosErosNyx

with Nyx

ErosCharonErisNemesisThanatosAetherHesperidesHemera
HypnosMomusKeresOneiroiGerasMorosPhantasosEleosHybrisEpiphron
03The names

The names Erebos answers to

Erebus

Latin form of Erebos's name

SourceLight and Darkness in Ancient Greek Myth and Religion

Darkness

The primordial darkness personified by Erebos

SourceLight and Darkness in Ancient Greek Myth and Religion

Gloom

The shadowy darkness associated with the underworld

SourceGreek Mythology: August 2018

04The myths

The myths of Erebos

2 myths, with sources recorded for each.

Erebos and Nyx Beget Aether and Hemera

Erebos joined Nyx, and they brought forth Aether and Hemera. Aether became the bright upper air, while Hemera became Day in divine human form. Their birth placed light and daylight after the primeval powers of darkness.

Before this union, Chaos and Nyx ruled over a shapeless gloom. Land, sea, and air lay mixed together, and no clear light revealed the form of Chaos. Nyx, the daughter of Chaos, shared his throne as the dark goddess of Night. In time, the two grew weary of their rule and called their son Erebos to help them. Erebos then dethroned Chaos and took Nyx as his wife.

Erebos and Nyx produced Aether and Hemera. Erebos was the darkness that meant the complete absence of sunlight, while Nyx was Night, which held within herself the potential of day. Aether belonged to the bright air above, and Hemera marked the arrival of daylight. Their birth showed darkness preceding light within the primeval order.

Nyx inhabited a palace in the dark regions of the lower world. She travelled in a chariot drawn by black horses, wore dark robes and a long veil, and was followed by the stars. Erebos remained closely joined to her and filled the regions beneath the sky with darkness. He also shrouded the Underworld, while Aether and Hemera belonged to the generation that followed the powers of darkness.

Erebos and Nyx Beget Aether and Hemera, a MythSource painting of the scene

2 sources· checked 2026-08-19

  1. 1Greek Myths & TalesT1
  2. 2Hesiod, TheogonyT1

    Quote

    “Hesiod presents Erebos and Nyx as producing Aether and Hemera, the bright upper air and Day, after Chaos and darkness arise.”

    Hesiod, Theogony

The Birth of Erebos

Chaos and Nyx grew weary of their power and called their son Erebos to assist them. He rose from the primeval darkness and took the name Darkness. His first act was to overthrow Chaos and take his place. He then sought a companion and married Nyx, his own mother. In that telling, the union was accepted because the first beings had no fixed laws at the beginning of the world.

Erebos became the darkness associated with the Underworld, while Nyx became the darkness that covered the earth. When evening came, Nyx drew Erebos across the sky. He filled every opening and hollow with darkness. At each new day, Erebos's daughters of light scattered him. Nyx and Erebos therefore remained closely linked, but they were not identical. Nyx carried within herself the possibility of day, while Erebos was the complete absence of sunlight.

In another telling, Erebos and Nyx stood together among the first beings to come from Chaos. Chaos came first, followed by Gaia, Tartarus, and Eros, while Erebos and Nyx emerged directly from Chaos. Nyx then conceived Aither and Hemera after joining with Erebos. This telling made Erebos and Nyx siblings rather than mother and son.

The tellings also differed over Erebos's nature. One rejected the idea that he was a path from Hades or a region above Hades. It made him a region of darkness set against the realm of light. Another called him the darkness that shrouded the Underworld. In every telling, Erebos emerged at the beginning of the cosmos as a primeval power of darkness and remained closely joined to Nyx.

The Birth of Erebos, a MythSource painting of the scene

3 sources· checked 2026-08-19

  1. 1Light and Darkness in Ancient Greek Myth and ReligionT1
  2. 2Hesiod, TheogonyT1

    Quote

    “Hesiod places Erebos and Nyx among the first beings to emerge from Chaos, then makes them the parents of Aether and Hemera.”

    Hesiod, Theogony

  3. 3Greek Mythology: August 2018T1

Also mentioned in

Stories elsewhere on MythSource that mention Erebos, each on that figure’s page.