Keres facts for kids

Keres can mean a few different things! It's a word that sounds the same but points to different people or ideas.

For example, Keres can be:

• Harald Keres, a smart scientist from Estonia who studied physics.
• Paul Keres, a famous chess player, also from Estonia, who was a grandmaster.
• Keres (spirits), who are spirits from ancient Greek myths.
• Kereš, a river that flows through Hungary and Serbia.

This page is about the Keres from Greek mythology.

Who Were the Keres?

The Keres were scary spirits in ancient Greek mythology. They were known as spirits of violent death. Imagine them as dark, winged beings who flew over battlefields. Their job was to snatch the souls of people who died in a terrible way.

Born from Darkness

The Keres were believed to be the daughters of Nyx. Nyx was the goddess of night. This means they were sisters to other powerful beings. These included Thanatos, who was the god of peaceful death, and Hypnos, the god of sleep. This family connection shows their link to the darker side of life.

Their Role in Battles

In ancient stories, the Keres were often seen during wars. They would hover over soldiers fighting. When someone was wounded or killed, the Keres would rush down. They would then carry away the souls of the dead. They were not just about death, but about the messy, painful kind of death.

Appearance and Traits

The Keres were usually described as dark and ugly. They had sharp claws and wings. They wore clothes stained with blood. They were hungry for blood and enjoyed the suffering of humans. This made them very frightening figures in Greek myths.

Different from Fates

It's easy to mix up the Keres with other Greek goddesses. For example, the Fates (Moirai) decided when a person would die. The Keres, however, did not decide death. Instead, they were there to collect the souls of those who died violently. They were more like scavengers of death.

Keres in Famous Stories

The Keres appeared in many ancient Greek writings. One famous example is in Homer's epic poem, the Iliad. This poem tells the story of the Trojan War. In the Iliad, the Keres are shown flying around the battlefield. They are eager to claim the fallen warriors.

Their Connection to Hades

While the Keres collected souls, they were not the rulers of the Underworld. That was the job of Hades. The Keres were more like his helpers or agents. They brought the souls to the realm of the dead.

See also

In Spanish: Keres para niños