Apate
Personification of deceit and fraud, one of the spirits released from Pandora's jar according to some accounts.
The Myth of Apate
Apate was a daughter of Nyx, born from darkness alongside other troubling abstractions including Eris (strife), Nemesis (retribution), and Oizys (misery). She personified the art of deliberate deception and was regarded as one of the malevolent spirits that plagued humanity. In the Hesiodic tradition, her kin formed a company of evils that made mortal life difficult. The goddess Athena could draw on the arts of Apate in battle strategy — the Trojan Horse being the supreme example — while the goddess Peitho (persuasion) occupied a more neutral or positive role. Apate's Roman counterpart was Fraus, and both figures represent the ancient Mediterranean understanding that the capacity for lies was an ancient, cosmic force rather than purely a human invention.
Parents
{Nyx}
Children
{}
Symbols
Fun Fact
Apate was considered a cosmic force predating humanity — the Greeks believed deception was built into the structure of the universe.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Daemon
💭 conceptReligion and Spirit
A divine spirit or guiding force in Greek religion, intermediate between gods and mortals.
Daimon
💭 conceptSpirit or divine force guiding individuals
A daimon was a spirit — neither fully god nor mortal — that guided, protected, or afflicted individuals, and whose meaning shifted from divine power to the Christian "demon."
Daimon
💭 conceptA divine spirit between gods and mortals
The concept of a guiding spirit assigned to each person — neither fully god nor fully human, but a mediating presence.
Momus
daimonblame, criticism, mockery, satire
Spirit of mockery, blame, and criticism, known for finding fault with the works of gods and mortals alike.
Daimonion
💭 conceptphilosophy, religion
A divine inner sign or voice — Socrates's personal spiritual signal that warned him away from wrong actions but never positively commanded.
Cratus
daimonstrength, power, might
Personification of strength and raw power, one of the enforcers of Zeus's will, son of Styx and Pallas.
Dolos
🏔 titantrickery, cunning deception, guile
The personification of trickery and cunning deceit, said to be the craftsman of the first deceitful image.
Arae
🐉 creatureCurses, vengeance
Spirits of curses who personified the destructive power of spoken imprecations and oaths
Telkhines
🐉 creaturedaimones
Ancient sorcerer-smiths of Rhodes who forged Poseidon's trident and were destroyed for their malice
Paidia
⚡ godPlay, amusement, childlike fun
The daimon of playfulness and carefree amusement, representing the lighter side of human experience
Melinoe
⚡ godUnderworld
A chthonic goddess of ghosts and nightmares who drove mortals to madness with spectral visions
Telesphorus
🐉 creaturedaimones
A hooded dwarf-like healing spirit who accompanied Asclepius and presided over convalescence