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| This is Hemera from my imagination. |
Hemera belonged to a class known as Protogenoi--the first generation of gods who played important roles in the creation of the cosmos. Like many of her 'relatives', she grew too old beyond retirement age and had been gradually forgotten in the godly happenings. Nevertheless, I still like this goddess very much.
Or maybe you're a Lee DeWyze person (wherever he is right now):
Whatever. Now, back to the story.
Our girl Hemera here was the daughter of the primeval gods Erebus (Shadow) and Nyx (Night), and the sister-wife of Aether (Air). In contrast to her 'dark' parentage, this goddess was all about brightness (which made me think of the phrase, "darkest before the dawn.). Hemera was then the goddess of light, warmth and day. She was called Dies by the Romans.
She was a totally sunny goddess who always had a positive outlook in life. As what I have read from Greekgods.info:
Hemera's job was to pull away the dark curtains of Erebus every morning to let her brother Aether's light shine forth. As a deity who brings morning, she also came to be considered as the goddess of new beginnings. (Source)
I personally think that that was the reason why the two of them eventually fell for each other. You know, having to see each other every day for eternity and stuff. As events showed, the two finally got married and had a daughter named Thalassa, the female personification of the sea.
Hemera left Tartarus just as Nyx entered it; when Hemera returned, Nyx left. According to Hesiod's Theogony, Nyx and Hemera draw near and greet one another as they pass the great threshold of bronze: and while the one is about to go down into the house, the other comes out at the door.
But that was an allegory. Literally, it must have looked like this:
(and I just got dizzy @_@)
That could have brought a somewhat frictional relationship between the mother and daughter. (Not that they wanted it, of course!)
As what I have pointed out in my previous posts, the gods are vulnerable to losing their powers either as a result of seizure or of voluntary surrender. What happened to Hemera and her husband Aether was an example of the latter.
Aether was the first of the couple to rest; having finally gotten the tad of being the literal Light. The god gave away his powers to his favorite niece, the Titaness Theia, as a birthday present. As a Protogenos himself, he could not just have faded away. Instead, he became the brass walls that fortified both Olympus and Tartarus.
As for Hemera, she still went on with her life, but felt that it was never the same without Aether. So, when Theia went to ask her to bless her newborn daughter Eos, Hemera willingly gave all her powers to the young goddess.
After that, she transformed into a celestial veil. We would later find Eos drawing back this veil every morning to make way for his brother Helios, the Sun.
And so, a wall and a curtain. That's what became the two of them. Nice ending.
It's a beautiful Day!
I just thought Michael Buble could set up the mood for you:Or maybe you're a Lee DeWyze person (wherever he is right now):
Whatever. Now, back to the story.
Our girl Hemera here was the daughter of the primeval gods Erebus (Shadow) and Nyx (Night), and the sister-wife of Aether (Air). In contrast to her 'dark' parentage, this goddess was all about brightness (which made me think of the phrase, "darkest before the dawn.). Hemera was then the goddess of light, warmth and day. She was called Dies by the Romans.
She was a totally sunny goddess who always had a positive outlook in life. As what I have read from Greekgods.info:
She brightened the dark with her morning greeting over the earth.Quite a happy camper, I must say.
Hemera's job was to pull away the dark curtains of Erebus every morning to let her brother Aether's light shine forth. As a deity who brings morning, she also came to be considered as the goddess of new beginnings. (Source)
I personally think that that was the reason why the two of them eventually fell for each other. You know, having to see each other every day for eternity and stuff. As events showed, the two finally got married and had a daughter named Thalassa, the female personification of the sea.
A special case of parent issues
Back in the days when the universe was still young, Hemera used to reside with her mother in Tartarus, in the depths of the Underworld. However, due to their conflicting work schedules, the two deities never met each other at home.Hemera left Tartarus just as Nyx entered it; when Hemera returned, Nyx left. According to Hesiod's Theogony, Nyx and Hemera draw near and greet one another as they pass the great threshold of bronze: and while the one is about to go down into the house, the other comes out at the door.
But that was an allegory. Literally, it must have looked like this:
That could have brought a somewhat frictional relationship between the mother and daughter. (Not that they wanted it, of course!)
Breaking Dawn
NOTE: This part has nothing to do with Stephenie Meyer's novel about freakin' vampires. I have nothing against Ms. Meyer, though.
As what I have pointed out in my previous posts, the gods are vulnerable to losing their powers either as a result of seizure or of voluntary surrender. What happened to Hemera and her husband Aether was an example of the latter.
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A really beautiful photo entitled
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As for Hemera, she still went on with her life, but felt that it was never the same without Aether. So, when Theia went to ask her to bless her newborn daughter Eos, Hemera willingly gave all her powers to the young goddess.
After that, she transformed into a celestial veil. We would later find Eos drawing back this veil every morning to make way for his brother Helios, the Sun.
And so, a wall and a curtain. That's what became the two of them. Nice ending.
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