Nyx, Goddess of the Night

 

"The Goddess Nyx" by Christine Graves via NightCafe Studio

Before the Olympians or Titans, there were the Primordials. The first beings who sprang directly from Chaos itself. These Primordials included Gaia (Earth), Eros (Love), Erebus (Darkness), Tartarus (the Pit), and Nyx (Night).

Hesiod portrayed Nyx as an evil being. He claimed that Nyx self-conceived a brood of children that included doom, misery, and deceit. However, she is also mother to the gods of sleep, dreams, and peaceful death. In conjunction with her brother, Erebus, she bore Aether (divine air) and Hemera (day). 

I'm one of those people who feel more alive at night. I've always been a night owl (my grandmother's term). I find it hard to believe that Nyx was a purely evil deity. A dark entity, yes, but not a purely evil one. I think she was seen as evil because in those days, it was dangerous to be out at night. Things ate you in the night. You could lose your way in the night. We learned to be wary of things that go bump in the night.

I used to write for a multi-character blogging community. Each of us wrote in the voice of one of the Greek gods. I wrote as the goddess Demeter, while another young woman wrote in the voice of Nyx. I loved the way the author portrayed the goddess. She wrote Nyx as someone who roamed through the seedier side of humanity, while maintaining her status as a most ancient deity. She was hard, cold, matter-of-fact. However, at the same time, she had a soft side. This young author brought Nyx to life, as both a hard-hearted demoness and a kind-hearted matron. It was magical.

In my mind, Nyx is a dual deity. She's hard when she has to be, but soft when needed. Her embrace can both terrify you and comfort you at the same time. She can give you peace in her realm or fear. It all depends on your actions.

As a kid of the 70s, I see Nyx as an old-school, retro superhero. She would have been badass, while still being that person you'd call when in trouble. I loved 1970s comic books, and she would have fit right in. I always had a thing for the darker characters. 

"Retro Nyx" by Christine Graves via NightCafe Studio

I completely understand why she was seen as an evil entity. She wasn't just the ruler of the night; she was the night. The ancient Greeks believed she rode across the evening sky, her starry cloak flowing out behind her and blanketing the Earth. 

I've always felt like a child of the night. I'm more comfortable at night. I'm more inspired at night. My grandmother was the same way. I remember her always staying up late playing solitaire and drinking coffee. Perhaps we're descendants of Nyx. Now that would be cool.

What are your thoughts? Do you fear the night, or embrace it? Is Nyx an evil entity or just a mother watching over her clan? I'd love to know.

Until next time, my friends, I bid you a good Nyx.
Miss Chris!!!

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

Christine Graves has been writing for more than 30 years. She runs several blogs including Priestess of Words, Collected Keepsakes, Promptly Creative, and Mystic Realms, all of which are part of her company, Graves Publications. She also writes for a platform called Medium.com, in which she runs a few publications.