Thanatos
Thanatos
Thamyris
Category="Death gods"Category="Freudian psychology"Category="Greek gods"Category="Personifications of death"[image] In Greek mythology, Thanatos (θάνατος, "death") was the personification of death (Roman equivalent: Mors). He was a creature of bone-chilling darkness. He was a son of Nyx and twin of Hypnos. He plays little role in the myths. He became rather overshadowed by Hades the lord of death. Night, the destructive, brought forth a horde of villainous immortals. Thanatos was one of that wretched lot.
Night’s offspring are described as "horrible, painful, cruel, brooding, mocking and malignant." (Theogony, 212). (The one exception is "loving Affection" who is placed between Deception and Old Age.)
Thanatos might be poetically called the brother of Sleep and the son of Night.
In art, Thanatos was depicted as a young man carrying a Butterfly, wreath or inverted torch in his hands. He sometimes has two wings and a sword attached to his belt.
Other uses
In psychoanalytical theory, Thanatos is the death instinct, which opposes Eros. The "death instinct" identified by Sigmund Freud, which signals a desire to give up the struggle of life and return to quiescence and the grave. This should not be confused with a similar urge/force Destrudo.References to Thanatos in fiction
Thanatos is a common name for characters in various fictional works, including video games, TV shows, animé and comic books. In particular, Thanatos has been referenced in the following works: - In Eternal Champions as the god of death until 1692
- In the popular webcomic Bigger Than Cheeses, as a character.
- In the Marvel Comics universe, as the Supervillain Thanos.
- In the series T*Witches, as a villain.
- The name/concept also appears in an episode of Dead Like Me (Season 2).
- In the popular Anime Saint Seiya, as a villain under the legion of Hades minions.
- The Anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion's soundtrack contains a track called "Thanatos."
- In the book On A Pale Horse by Piers Anthony, he is the main character.
- In the book Donnerjack by Roger Zelazny and Jane Lindskold, he is the personification of Death. Master of Deep Fields.
- In the televison show Gargoyles, as the last name of the main villain for the first few seasons (David Xanatos).
- In the BattleTech universe, as a BattleMech called Thanatos.
- In the video game Wild ARMs 2, the spell Thanatos X is named after Thanatos.
- In the video game Chaos Legion, as an allied creature (a Legion).
- In the video game Silent Hill, featuring a song called "Angel's Thanatos" amonst other things.
- In the video game Soul Calibur II, Thanatos is the legendary axe wielded by Astoroth.
- In the portuguese metal band ThanatoSchizo.
- In the video game Lost Kingdoms II as a creature of the same name, consisting of three skull heads and dealing phenomenal damage.
- In the video game Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magic Obscura, Thanatos is an island rife with savages and wild beasts where no civilization exists.
- In the video game Seiken Densetsu 2, Thanatos is one of the main villains of the game, the bodyguard of Emperor Vandole who has his agenda.
- In the video game soundtrack for Silent Hill 2, track twelve is called Angel's Thanatos.
See also