14 Facts About Thanatos

Thanatos was a minor figure in Greek mythology, often referred to but rarely appearing in person.

Thanatos's name is transliterated in Latin as Thanatus, but his counterpart in Roman mythology is Mors or Letum.

Greek poet Hesiod established in his Theogony that Thanatos has no father, but is the son of Nyx and brother of Hypnos .

Thanatos was loosely associated with the three Moirai, particularly Atropos, who was a goddess of death in her own right.

Thanatos is, at times, specified as being exclusive to a peaceful death, while the bloodthirsty Keres embodied violent death.

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Thanatos was thus regarded as merciless and indiscriminate, hated by – and hateful towards — mortals and gods alike.

Thanatos had come to take the soul of Alkestis, who had offered her life in exchange for the continued life of her husband, King Admetos of Pherai.

When Thanatos ascended from Hades to claim Alkestis, Heracles sprung upon the god and overpowered him, winning the right to have Alkestis remain, while Thanatos fled, cheated of his quarry.

Thanatos became associated more with a gentle passing than a woeful demise.

Thanatos has been portrayed as a slumbering infant in the arms of his mother Nyx, or as a youth carrying a butterfly or a wreath of poppies .

Thanatos is often shown carrying an inverted torch, representing a life extinguished.

Thanatos is usually described as winged and with a sword sheathed at his belt.

Thanatos was rarely portrayed in art without his twin brother Hypnos.

Thanatos is famously shown on the Euphronios Krator where he and his brother Hypnos are shown carrying the body of Sarpedon to his home for burial.