Hypnos - The Greek God Of Sleep

The Scottish physician James Braid (1795-1860) named hypnosis after Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep.

Hypnos was one of the very ancient deities of the Greek family of Gods.

Hypnos is a gentle and benevolent god who sometimes takes the form of a singing bird, sometimes that of a winged youth or old man. He carries a drinking horn, from which he pours sleep-inducing potion. He is most beloved of the Muses, and his spouse is Pasithea, one of the Charities. Together they have three children, Morpheus, Phobetor, and Phantasus who occupy the dreams of men. Morpheus appears in human form in our dreams, Phobetor as birds and animals, and Phantasus as all the animate objects of our dreams.

Hypnos delivers mortals from pain and mental suffering, with the help of his sons and his brother Oniros (Dream) he colours their sleep with dreams.

Hypnos opens two gates, the Gates of Horn and Ivory, through which Oniros comes into the minds of men.