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Somnus
Roman deity, god of sleep / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the Roman god of sleep. For the thoroughbred racehorse, see Somnus (horse).
In Roman mythology, Somnus ("sleep") is the personification of sleep.[1] His Greek counterpart is Hypnos. Somnus resided in the underworld. According to Virgil, Somnus was the brother of Death (Mors),[2] and according to Ovid, Somnus had a 'thousand' sons,[3] the Somnia ('dream shapes'), who appear in dreams 'mimicking many forms'.[4] Ovid named three of the sons of Somnus: Morpheus, who appears in human guise, Icelos / Phobetor, who appears as beasts, and Phantasos, who appears as inanimate objects.[5]
Quick Facts Abode, Genealogy ...
Somnus | |
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God of sleep | |
![]() Somnus and Mors, Sleep and His Half-Brother Death by John William Waterhouse | |
Abode | Underworld |
Genealogy | |
Children | The Somnia, which included Morpheus, Phobetor, and Phantasos |
Equivalents | |
Greek equivalent | Hypnos |
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