Erebus
primordialἜρεβος
Primordial darkness
Erebus was the personification of deep darkness, born from Chaos — his name became the word for the dark region of the underworld through which the dead pass.
The Myth
Erebus emerged from Chaos alongside Nyx. With Nyx, he fathered Aether (light) and Hemera (Day) — darkness paradoxically giving birth to light. Erebus became identified with the dark passage between the surface and Hades proper. Charon's ferry crossed through Erebus.
Parents
Born from Chaos
Children
Aether, Hemera (by Nyx)
Symbols
darknessshadowmist
Fun Fact
Mount Erebus in Antarctica, the southernmost active volcano, was named after the ship HMS Erebus — itself named after this god of darkness.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth: