The Greek god of sleep Morpheus is a secondary god. To him, people used to go to bed to save themselves from nightmares. It was from those times that expressions appeared that are popular until now: "indulge in Morpheus", etc. Interestingly, the name of the narcotic substance of morphine has a direct connection to this god. The name Morpheus from the Greek language is translated as "forming dreams".
People revered this god and even from some side were afraid, because they believed that sleep is very close to death. The Greeks never woke a sleeping person, thinking that the soul who left the body, simply can not return.
Who is the dream god Morpheus?
He was mostly portrayed as a young man with wings on his temples. Some sources also have information that this god is an old man with a big beard, and in his hands he keeps a bouquet of red poppies. The Greeks believed that you can see Morpheus only in a dream. This god has the ability to take a different form and copy the voice and habits of the person or creature into which he has become. In general, we can say that any dream is the embodiment of Morpheus. He has the ability to immerse in sleep not only ordinary people, but other gods. He had the strength even to immerse himself in the kingdom of Morpheus, Zeus and Poseidon.
Morpheus' father is the god of sleep Hypnos, but at the expense of the one who is the mother, there are several assumptions. According to one version, the parent is Aglaya, the daughter of Zeus and Hera. Some sources indicate that his mother is Nykta, who is the goddess of sleep. On many images she holds two babies: white - Morpheus and black - death. There were gods of sleep, siblings, among which the most famous: Fobetor, appearing in the image of various animals and birds, as well as Fantasy, imitating various phenomena of nature and inanimate objects. In addition, Morpheus had many unnamed brothers and sisters. In the realm of Morpheus' sleep there were also spirits of dreams - Oneyra. Outwardly they looked like children with black wings. They tried to get into the dreams of people.
Morpheus was ranked among the ancient titans that the Olympic gods did not like, and eventually they were destroyed, except for Morpheus and Hypnos , because they were considered strong and necessary for people. With a special love for the god of dreams were lovers, because they addressed him so that he sent a dream with the participation of the second half. In no city of Greece and Rome was there a single shrine or temple dedicated to Morpheus, because it was considered a "form" that determines the reality of a person. That is why the worship of this god was very different from the others. To show their respect for Morpheus, people settled their sleeping place with a certain respect. Some expressed their respect, this god doing at home a small altar on which were placed quartz crystals and poppy flowers.
God Morpheus has his own symbol, which is a double gate. One half consists of elephant bones that include deceitful dreams.
After the decline of the Roman Empire, the cults of the gods, including Morpheus, disappeared. About the god of sleep people once again began to speak in the era of the "Renaissance". It was at this time that poets and artists returned to the ancient heritage.