Pray to the Moon when She is round,
Luck with you will then abound,
What you seek for shall be found
On the sea or solid ground.

NYX, Νύξ, Nox: Primordial Mother

Nyx/Nox/Noc/Nuit/Noite/Νύξ


"Silent Nyx shrouded the west in her own colour, and scored the sky across with her own starry cloak." -- Nonnus, Dionysiaca 18. 160 ff


Americo-noite (The Night escorted by the geniuses of Love and Study) Pedro Américo, 1886 Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
Americo-noite
(The Night escorted by the geniuses of Love and Study)
By Brazilian artist Pedro Américo, 1886
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons.


Welcome to my devotional pages, a virtual museum for the liminal tribe of the Oneiroi, their somnolent brother Hypnos & the primordial mother Nyx. This is a work in progress, an ever-evolving place to collect & consider written & visual works by a variety of artists featuring the daemones I honour in my personal cosmology & "practice." I would like to make it clear that this is not an authoritative source for, or expression of Hellenisimos (although some practitioners of Hellenisimos may find some of the resources below useful or inspiring). As an animist, I prefer to honour Them with an admittedly less traditional approach which is intuitive, relationship-focused & personally relevant. 


The accompanying devotional page for The Ονειροι, Oneiroi, including Μορφεύς, Morpheus, Φοβητωρ, Phobêtôr (also Ικελος, Ikelos) and Φαντασος, Phantăsos can be found HERE.

The accompanying devotional page for  Υπνος, Hypnos or Somnus can be found HERE.



"O Nox. . .  Ever shall this house throughout the circling periods of the year hold thee high in honour and in worship..." -- Statius, Thebaid 1. 497 ff (trans. Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.)

NYX, Νύξ, Nox Household Shrine Bronze Figure.
NYX, Νύξ, Nox Household Shrine Bronze Figure.


NOX, or NIGHT, the oldest of the deities, was held in great esteem among the ancients. She was even reckoned older than Chaos. Orpheus ascribes to her the generation of gods and men, and says, that all things had their beginning from her. Pausanias has left us a description of a remarkable statue of this goddess. “We see,” says he, “a woman holding in her right hand a white child sleeping, and in her left a black child likewise asleep, with both its legs distorted; the inscription tells us what they are, though we might easily guess without it: the two children are Death and Sleep, and the woman is Night, the nurse of them both.”
The poets fancied her to be drawn in a chariot with two horses, before which several stars went as harbingers; that she was crowned with poppies, and her garments were black, with a black veil over her countenance, and that stars followed in the same manner as they preceded her; that upon the departure of the day she arose from the ocean, or rather from Erĕbus, and encompassed the earth with her sable wings. The sacrifice offered to Night was a cock because of its enmity to darkness, and rejoicing at the light. 
 -- Charles K. Dillaway, Roman Antiquities, and Ancient Mythology for Classical Schools (2nd ed) 

To Nyx (Night), Fumigation with Torches. Nyx, parent goddess, source of sweet repose from whom at first both Gods and men arose. Hear, blessed Kypris, decked with starry light, in sleep’s deep silence dwelling ebon night! Dreams (Oneiroi) and soft ease attend thy dusky train, pleased with the lengthened gloom and feastful strain, dissolving anxious care, the friend of mirth, with darkling coursers riding round the earth. Goddess of phantoms and of shadowy play, whose drowsy power divides the natural day; by fate’s decree you constant send the light to deepest hell, remote from mortal sight; for dire necessity, which nought withstands, invests the world with adamantine bands. Be present, Goddess, to thy suppliant’s prayer, desired by all, whom all alike revere, blessed, benevolent, with friendly aid dispel the fears of twilight’s dreadful shade. 
 -- Orphic Hymn 3 to Nyx (trans. Taylor) (Greek hymns C3rd B.C. to 2nd A.D.)


I shall sing of Night, Mother of gods and men.
Night- and let us call her Kypris- gave birth to all.
Hearken, O blessed goddess, jet-black and star-lit,
Whose delight is in quiet and slumber-filled serenity.
Cheerful and delightsome, O mother of dreams, you love the nightlong revel,
And your gentleness rids of cares, and offers respite from toil.
Giver of sleep, beloved of all you are, as you drive your steeds and gleam in darkness.
Ever incomplete, now terrestrial and now again celestial,
You circle around in pursuit of sprightly phantoms,
You force light into the nether world, and again you flee into Hades.
Dreadful Necessity governs all things.
But now, O blessed one, yea beatific and desired by all,
I call on you to grant a kind ear to my voice of supplication,
And benevolent, come to disperse fears that glisten in the dark.
-- Orphic Hymn #3 To Nyx, Translated by Apostolos N. Athanassakis, 1977



Nox Mandala, a gift of gratitude from the Open Gyre, 2015.
Nox Mandala, a gift of gratitude from the The Open Gyre, 2015.



Personal writings regarding mother Nyx:





Nyx, Night Goddess Gustave Moreau, 1880 Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Nyx, Night Goddess
Gustave Moreau, 1880
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Allegoria de la Nit Artist uncertain. Palau de Cervelló, ballroom ceiling.
Allegoria de la Nit
Artist uncertain.
Palau de Cervelló, ballroom ceiling.
Wikicommons image edited by Moma Fauna.





A Noite Oscar Pereira da Silva, Brazilian, 1927 Museum Mariano Procopio | Juiz de Fora - Brazil Image courtesy Warburg Banco Comparativo de  Imagens | NCEA - Center for Art History and Archaeology
A Noite
Oscar Pereira da Silva, Brazilian, 1927
Museum Mariano Procopio, Juiz de Fora,  Brazil
Image courtesy Warburg Banco Comparativo de
Imagens | NCEA - Center for Art History and Archaeology 
 

La Nuit William-Adolphe Bouguereau, French, 1883 Hillwood Museum, Washington D.C.
La Nuit
William-Adolphe Bouguereau, French, 1883
Hillwood Museum, Washington D.C.

Nyx
By Jeff Wack.
New Media: digital and acyrlic on Canvas.

Embellished giclee prints available at Sensuous Muse.

La Nuit Auguste Raynaud, French, 1854 - 1937 Painting image & history via Sotheby's Auction House
La Nuit
Auguste Raynaud, French, 1854 - 1937
Painting image & history via Sotheby's Auction House

Night Alexandre-Auguste Hirsch, French, 1875 Image image & history Sotheby's Auction House.
Night
Alexandre-Auguste Hirsch, French, 1875
Image 
image & history Sotheby's Auction House.

Nyx Ignace Henri Jean Théodore Fantin-Latour, French, 1897 Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
Nyx
Ignace Henri Jean Théodore Fantin-Latour, French, 1897
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

Queen of the Night Ignace Henri Jean Théodore Fantin-Latour, French, date unknown Image courtesy ArtMagick.
Queen of the Night
Ignace Henri Jean Théodore Fantin-Latour, French, date unknown
Image courtesy ArtMagick.


Nuit Jean-Léon Gérôme, French, ca. 1850 - 1855 Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France
Nuit
Jean-Léon Gérôme, French, ca. 1850 - 1855
Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France.


Night Slid Down
"Night slid down one long stream of sighing wind,
And in her bosom bore the baby, Sleep." -- The Gardener's Daughter, Tennyson
Illustration from "Tennyson's Dream Of Fair Women and Other Poems"
illustrated by Florence Harrison (1923).


Caption: THE MOTHER THEN WRUNG HER HANDS, WEPT, AND SANG.
Helen Stratton, British Illustrator, (1867–1961)
"...sing me all the songs you used to sing your child.
I am fond of those songs. I have heard them before.
I am Night; and I saw your tears flowing while you sang them.
"
From The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen, courtesy WikiSource.


Noc Edward Okuń, Polish, 1903 From the Polish publication, Chimera.
Noc
Edward Okuń, Polish, 1903
From the Polish publication, Chimera.



Night, Edward Burne Jones, British, 1870, Image courtesy Wikimedia CommonsNight, Edward Burne Jones, British, 1870, Image courtesy Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum
Night (both images)
Edward Burne Jones, British, 1870 (both images)
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons. (left)


Night
John Roddam Spencer Stanhope, British, 1878
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

Noc, Edward Robert Hughes, British, 1851-1914Night with Her Train of Stars, Edward Robert Hughes, British, 1851-1914


Noc (left), Night with Her Train of Stars (right)
Edward Robert Hughes, British, 1851-1914
Both images courtesy Wikimedia Commons.


Nyx Color Work Sketch. By Laura "Pelick" Siadak.
Nyx
Color Work Sketch.
By Laura "Pelick" Siadak.

Allegory of the Night Alfred Émile Léopold Stevens, Belgian,  Private collection, formerly MST/Mu.ZEE, Oostend, Belgium
Allegory of the Night
Alfred Émile Léopold Stevens, Belgian, Date?
Private collection, formerly MST/Mu.ZEE, Oostend, Belgium

Allegory of Night Joachim von Sandrart, German, circa 1654-1656 Oil on canvas. Vienna, Austria, Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Allegory of Night
Joachim von Sandrart, German, circa 1654-1656
Oil on canvas.
Vienna, Austria, Kunsthistorisches Museum.

Nyx and Aglaia "Nyx (Right) and Aglaia (Left) playing ball on Ancient Greek coast." SummerSarah of DeviantART.
Nyx and Aglaia
"Nyx (Right) and Aglaia (Left) playing ball on Ancient Greek coast."
SummerSarah of DeviantART.

The Triumph of Day Over Night Preceded by Dawn. Antoni Caba, Barcelona, 1838-1907 Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
The Triumph of Day Over Night Preceded by Dawn
Antoni Caba, Barcelona, 1838-1907
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.

Dawn and Night Ignace Henri Jean Théodore Fantin-Latour, French, Date? Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France
Dawn and Night
Ignace Henri Jean Théodore Fantin-Latour, French, Date?
Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France

Goddess Aurora Triumphing over Night Fragonard, Jean-Honoré, French, 1755-56 Private collection, image courtesy Web Gallery of Art
Goddess Aurora Triumphing over Night
Fragonard, Jean-Honoré, French, 1755-56
Private collection, image courtesy Web Gallery of Art

Night Michelangelo Buonarroti, Italian, 1526-33 Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence
Night (detail of the tomb of Giuliano de' Medici)
Michelangelo Buonarroti, Italian, 1526-33
"The artist's representation of Night, along with Dawn,
 the only female nude Michelangelo ever sculpted...
" -- WGA
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence
Plate 25: La Notte (Night) Jan de Bisschop, Dutch, 1628-1671 Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum.
Plate 25: La Notte (Night)
Jan de Bisschop, etching, Dutch, 1628-1671
Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum.

Night Johannes Schilling, German, 1828-1910 Brühl Terrace, Dresden. Image courtesy WikiCommons.
Night
Johannes Schilling, German sculptor, 1828-1910
Brühl's Terrace, Dresden. Image courtesy WikiCommons.

The Night Pollet, Joseph-Michel-Ange, French, 1850s Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo, Buenos Aires
The Night
Pollet, Joseph-Michel-Ange, French, 1850s
Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo, Buenos Aires
 


Bust of Nyx Henri Weigele, French sculptor, 1858 - 1927 Bronze / Onyx (If only I had the spare cash: She Would Be Mine)
Bust of Nyx
Henri Weigele, French sculptor, 1858 - 1927
Bronze / Onyx
(If only I had the spare cash: She Would Be Mine)


Night Henri Weigele, French sculptor, 1858 - 1927 White marble, marble Auction details at Invaluable.Night Henri Weigele, French sculptor, 1858 - 1927 White marble, marble Auction details at Invaluable.
Night
Henri Weigele, French sculptor, 1858 - 1927
White marble, marble
Auction details at Invaluable.


Nyx (or Selene)
Artist unknown, Roman, 100-1 BCE.
Bronze statue.
"Cloak billowing behind and toes pointed for landing, the Goddess
 of the Night is fully dressed and carries an object in her right hand that
may be part of a torch; perhaps the moon-goddess Selene.
" --vroma.org
Currently on view at the Getty Foundation's Getty Villa, USA

Allegory of Night Paul Aichele, German, 1859-1910 Bronze & marble.
Allegory of Night
Paul Aichele, German, 1859-1910
Bronze & marble.
Figure sold at auction via liveauctioneers.com.


Night Cesare Lapini, Italian, 1898 White marble. Night Cesare Lapini, Italian, 1898 White marble.
Night
Cesare Lapini, Italian, 1898
White marble.
Figure sold at auction via liveauctioneers.com.


The Night and the Chariot of the Sun Sansovino, Andrea, Italian, 1490s Villa Medici, Poggio a Caiano
The Night and the Chariot of the Sun
(part of the relief frieze which adorned the exterior of the villa at Poggio a Caiano)
Sansovino, Andrea, Italian, 1490s
Villa Medici, Poggio a Caiano

Night Hendrick Goltzius, Dutch artist, 1558-1617 Art Institute of Chicago, USA
Night
Hendrick Goltzius, Dutch artist, 1558-1617
Art Institute of Chicago, USA

Nox Francesco Albani, 1704 de Young|Legion of Honor Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco
Nox
Francesco Albani, 1704

de Young|Legion of Honor Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco

Nox
Jonas Suyderhoef, printmaker; Dutch, 1613 - 1686
The British Museum, UK.

Nox (from the Four Times of Day series) Samuel Bottschild, German, 1640-1707 Image courtesy Wikipedia.de. Available for purchase at Old Masterprint.
Nox (from the Four Times of Day series)
Samuel Bottschild, German, 1640-1707
Image courtesy Wikipedia.de.
Available for purchase at Old Masterprint.

Night and Her Children, Sleep and Death Carstens, Asmus Jakob, Danish-German, 1794 Kunstsammlungen, Weimar
Night and Her Children, Sleep and Death
Carstens, Asmus Jakob, Danish-German, 1794
Kunstsammlungen, Weimar

Nyktos Moleskin. By Edgar Invoker of DeviantArt.
Nyktos
Moleskin.
By Edgar Invoker of DeviantArt.

Allegory of the Night Artist unknown, Britain, 1860s  Double-layer shell and gold; cameo Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg
Allegory of the Night
Artist unknown, Britain, 1860s
Double-layer shell and gold; cameo
Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg 

Allegory of the Night, After the relief by Bertel Thorwaldsen   Artist unknown, Italy, 1830s-1840s Shell; cameo Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg
Allegory of the Night, After the relief by Bertel Thorwaldsen 
Artist unknown, Italy, 1830s-1840s
Shell; cameo
Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg


Nyx & Selene.  Attic period (circa 430-410 BC) pottery pyxis. The British Museum, UK.
Nyx & Selene.
Attic period (circa 430-410 BC) pottery pyxis.
The British Museum, UK.

Nox Walter Crane, British, 1878 "Earthenware tile with a female figure of 'night' with a mask, reclining on a classical-style bed decorated with an owl and sphinxes. A vase of poppies is on the left and 'NOX' is inscribed at the top right, with swags, scrolls and suns forming the border." -- British Museum The British Museum, UK.
Nox
Walter Crane, British, 1878
"Earthenware tile with a female figure of 'night' with a mask, reclining on a classical-style bed decorated with an owl and sphinxes. A vase of poppies is on the left and 'NOX' is inscribed at the top right, with swags, scrolls and suns forming the border." -- British Museum
The British Museum, UK.


Nyx Photograph. No attribution available.  (If you have one, please notify me.)
Nyx
No attribution available.

(If you have one, please notify me.)


The Night Natalia Drepina, Russia.
The Night
Natalia Drepina, Russia.
Purchase a print at the artist's DeviantArt page.


Nyx, Goddess of Night Yoann Lossel, France.
Nyx, Goddess of Night
Yoann Lossel, France.
Visit the artist's DeviantArt, Blog or Etsy pages.


Nyx Mask By Cyndy Salisbury Image credit: Hermetic Library Blog Archives
Nyx Mask
By Cyndy Salisbury
Image credit: Hermetic Library Blog Archives.

The goddess Nyx By Cyndy Salisbury Image credit: TheArtOfTheMask Etsy Store.
The goddess Nyx
By Cyndy Salisbury
Image credit: TheArtOfTheMask Etsy Store.

Nyx with Veil of Night By Cyndy Salisbury Image credit: Fantast in Focus: Cyndy Salisbury, at the Thinker's Garden
Nyx with Veil of Night
By Cyndy Salisbury
Image credit: Fantast in Focus: Cyndy Salisbury, at the Thinker's Garden






Lyrics to above recording:

Orphic Hymn to Nyx - Mother of the Gods
.:.
Night
Mother of the Gods
I sing to You
Mother of humankind
Night
who gave birth to all
and who is also known as Kypris
hail blesséd Goddess
indigo luminescence
lit by starlight
You who love silence
and deep peaceful sleep
Euphrosyne
delightful
who loves all-night rituals
Mother of Dreams
You help us forget our troubles
Holy One
You grant us rest from work
giver of sleep
You who are loved by all
horse-rider
shining by night
unending
chthonian as well as celestial
encircling
Your cosmic dance shapes our fate
You shine upon the earth
and Your light reaches into Hades
for You, Ananke
are all-powerful
but now, Blesséd Goddess
I call
You of many treasures
every creature yearns for You
Gracious One
hear our words of supplication
come to us,
propitious one
and put to flight
our fear of the night
Creatrix ...
Creatrix ...
Creatrix
.:.
translation by Andonis Theodoros
2014

2 comments:

Jillian said...

This is beautiful. Very close with the goddess Nótt in the Norse lore. This helps me think. Thank you.

Gabriel said...

Thank you for this, it is very difficult to find information about this goddess

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