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Hemera, a MythSource painting
Greek

Hemera

Bright Day · Goddess of Day · Daughter of Night

01Identity

Hemera in Greek tradition

Daylight alternates with darkness through Hemera, the Greek deity of daytime and illumination. She is the personification of Day, described as the daughter of Night, Nyx, and born from Nyx’s union with Erebus alongside Aether. Unlike Nyx, whose domain is darkness and mystery, Hemera represents the bright sky and radiant light.

Top questions

The quick answers

  • Who is Hemera?

    Hemera is a Greek deity associated with daytime; daylight; illumination; and the daily alternation of light and darkness.
    Source

    Source

    • Light and Darkness in Ancient Greek Myth and Religion
    • Greek Myths & Tales
    • Greek Mythology and Poetics
    • Monsters of Greek Mythology, Volume One

  • What is Hemera the goddess of?

    Hemera is associated with daytime; daylight; illumination; and the daily alternation of light and darkness.
    Source

    Source

    • Light and Darkness in Ancient Greek Myth and Religion

  • What family links are recorded for Hemera?

    Father: Erebos, Mother: Nyx, Spouse: Aether, 4 children, 1 sibling.
02Family

Hemera’s family, at a glance

ErebosNyx
HemeraAether

with Aether

AuraGaiaThalassaUranus
03The names

The names Hemera answers to

Day

The personified daytime

SourceGreek Myths & Tales

Bright Day

The radiant light of daytime

SourceGreek Mythology and Poetics

Goddess of Day

The divine personification of day

SourceMonsters of Greek Mythology, Volume One

Daylight

The light and duration of day

SourceLight and Darkness in Ancient Greek Myth and Religion

04The myths

The myths of Hemera

1 myth, with sources recorded for each.

Hemera's Daily Exchange with Nyx

Hemera left the house beneath the earth as Nyx entered it. Daylight went out with Hemera, and night came with Nyx. The two primordial sisters passed one another at the threshold, each taking the place the other had held. Their exchange brought day and night to the world in turn.

Nyx had been born from Chaos, when land, sea, and air still lay mixed together in a shapeless mass. She later became united with Erebus, the darkness that shrouded the Underworld. Their union produced Aether and Hemera, Air and Daylight. Hemera therefore came from the darkness that preceded light, while Nyx remained the night that carried the potential of day.

Nyx lived in a palace in the dark regions of the lower world. When evening came, she left the upper world and returned to that dwelling beneath the earth. Darkness followed her across the sky and filled every void and crevice. Hemera then departed from the house and scattered the darkness of Erebus. Her coming brought daylight over the earth.

The sisters did not remain together. Hemera left as Nyx entered, and Nyx left as Hemera entered. Neither kept the world permanently, since each gave way to the other at the appointed turn. Their passage continued without end, and day and night alternated eternally.

Hemera's Daily Exchange with Nyx, a MythSource painting of the scene

2 sources· checked 2026-08-24

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

    Quote

    “Night and Day meet at the bronze threshold of their dwelling, each entering as the other leaves, since the house cannot contain them both together.”

    Hesiod, Theogony

Also mentioned in

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

Continue the road

More of Hemera’s family, sourced

GaiaChild