Erebus: Walking Through the Valley of the ‘Shadow’ of Death

Darkness is Erebus.

(I got the title from my favorite psalm in the Bible, Psalm 23. Congratulations to those who recognized it. Peace to those who didn’t.)

I have not found many references for this particular god. From my point of view, Erebus so wanted to live a very private life; he left many details about him... well... in the dark.

The Murky Past. Almost all ancient sources agree that our boy Erebus was one of the early birds of Greek mythology. Hence, he belonged to the class of the Protogenoi. Erebus, together with his sister-wife Nyx, was born in the beginning of time from Chaos, the shapeless nothingness who, ironically, was also the mixture of everything (I know I got you confused with that one. I myself am confused, too. It’s a tie.)

Anyway, Chaos must have gotten his/her (I’m not really sure) son’s name from that book quite popular among first time parents (called A Thousand Baby Names or something). According to Greek Gods Info:

The name Erebus is believed to come from Proto-Indo-European language, *h1regwos, cognate to Old Norse rœkkr, Gothic riqis "darkness", Sanskrit rajani "night", Tocharian orkäm "darkness". Some also believe that Erebus could be from Semitic, c.f. Hebrew erebh and Akkadian erebu "sunset, evening" ("darkness").

Pretty name for a baby god, actually.

More than Fifty Shades of Gray

Blackout. Like all the first-born gods, Erebus also represented a fundamental element of the universe. He was the god of shadows and was DARKNESS himself. It would be interesting for us to mention that her consort Nyx was also a deity of darkness, and the goddess of night on that note.

His dark mists enveloped the edges of the world, and filled the deep hollows of the earth. His wife Nyx drew these mists across the heavens to bring night to the world, while his daughter Hemera scattered them bringing day: one blocking out the light of Aether (shining, blue heaven) and the other revealing it (Source).

Obscurity Agency. You might think that being always in the dark is all depressingly boring; but not for Erebus. In fact, there are a couple of things (spell P-O-W-E-R-S) that makes Erebus enjoy his job.

Rumor has it that the guy had complete mastery over the manipulation of Shadows and Darkness (well, duh). That means Erebus can manipulate and control things by their shadows; can make shadows become three-dimensional, tangible, even living beings; can use darkness and shadows as portals from one another (Source).

(The Disney kid in me imagines Peter Pan chasing his shadow. The Otaku in me sees Shikamaru and his ninja techniques. Whichever is cooler. Thanks to Google images for the two BTW. XD)

Furthermore, he can bless one with some of his powers. According to a website interestingly called Superpower List:

“His blessing gives you powers over the dark. For one, you can control shadows as living things. They are your faithful servants. You can make them do whatever you want. They can reshape themselves and store things within themselves. However, you cannot become a shadow or shadow travel.”

The good: Control shadows The shadows can reshape and store things within themselves. Shadows can spy on things for you and can "communicate" with you

The bad: Can only summon so many shadows to help you at once No shadow mimicry or travel

(It’s a really fun website especially I you’re into superhero thingies like me. You can even choose the powers you’d want to have there. Visit the site here. Super awesome.)

Seriously Black Family. (Bad pun, I know. My apologies to all the Potterheads out there.)

Like many of the Protogenoi (and the gods in general), Erebus also possessed the virility some men could only wish for. Unlike most of the gods, though, he remained faithful to his wife, Nyx. As Godchecker puts it:

“Even with the lights turned out he managed to father CHARON, THANATOS, HYPNOS, EROS and the FATES.”

(Wait up; I have more interesting references for Eros and the Fates’ parentage which I’ll be posting in this blog. Soon.)

Just so you know, Erebus and Nyx were more hard-working than that. Actually, here’s the full list of their children I got from our favorite Wikipedia:

• Aether (Brightness)
• Charon (of keen gaze)
• Epiphron (Prudence, shrewdness, thoughtfulness and carefulness)
• Hemera (Day)
• Hypnos (Sleep): father, with Pasithea, of Phantasos (dreams)
• Moros (Doom)
• Nemesis (Indignation, Retribution)
• Sophrosyne (temperance, balance, moderation)
• Thanatos (Death)
• Morpheus (Dreams)

There are quite a few individuals here whom I think have different parents. I’ll just be discussing them at some other times, though.

Nyx also bore several children without the help of any man. I have no idea how she did that, but Erebus still treated them as his own, though. What a loving husband!

The god is a governor

*****ALERT: This is in relation to Erebus also being one of the Infernal Regions. I just wanted to make up a story of how he came to be one. Not much references here. Enjoy but consider yourself warned.*****

Unlike the other Protogenoi, Erebus did not fade nor become transformed into a thing with the coming of the younger generation of gods. To add to that, he continued to play an important role in the cycles of night and day. However, while the other gods kept coming and going and bickering against each other, Erebus had always kept his mouth shut and in the dark.

This had earned him the favor of the newly crowned King Cronus. Along with being the god of darkness and shadows, the Titan lord also appointed him the governor of the infernal region where the dead had to pass immediately after dying. It was:

A world below where no ray of sunshine, no gleam of daylight or vestige of health-giving terrestrial life ever appeared.

In this guise, Erebus became associated with his fellow Protogenoi and governor of hell, Tartarus. They were both put under the dominion of the Titan Iapetus who ruled the Underworld, much to Erebus’ displeasure. It is said that the god Hades was brought up in either his or Tartarus’ realm.

When the Titanomachy came, Erebus still did not take sides. As a result, he did not become affected by it. He still retained his power as governor when Hades ascended the throne of the Underworld.

Not much was heard about him after that. (As if people heard so much from him before that. Tsss.)

Mount Erebus: Here comes Hell

Fortunately for us modern humans, we don't have to die to get to Erebus. On my research, I found a real actual place on earth named Erebus! Yes, Mount Erebus is an active volcano located on the icy territory of Antarctica. And please let me quote this from National Geographic:

We’ve come to one of the coldest spots on Earth to search for beings that thrive in blistering heat. In a place with full daylight for four months, we’re seeking life that dwells in utter darkness. Welcome to the topsy-turvy world of Antarctica’s Mt. Erebus.

However, I wouldn't recommend visiting this one (Unless you're a real expert on volcanology, and you can pay the money to go to Antarctica).

As it shows, Erebus, like its namesake, is also no fit for living beings. Like its mythical counterpart, visiting Mount Erebus unarmed would only lead you to one destination – the land of the DEAD.