Keres (spirits) facts for kids
The Keres are scary female spirits from Greek mythology. They were like the daughters of Erebus, who was the god of darkness, and Nyx, the goddess of night.
These spirits looked very dark and had sharp teeth and claws. They were said to enjoy the taste of blood. The Keres were often seen flying around battlefields, looking for people who were hurt or dying. They would snatch the souls of those who died a violent death.
Who Were the Keres?
The Keres were not just any spirits; they were special spirits of violent death. This means they were interested in people who died in battles, accidents, or from diseases, not those who died peacefully in their sleep. They were different from Thanatos, who was the god of peaceful death.
Their Family Tree
The Keres came from a very old and powerful family. Their mother, Nyx, the goddess of night, was one of the first beings in the universe. She also gave birth to other important figures in Greek myths, like:
This shows that the Keres were part of a group of dark and powerful forces that influenced the world.
What Did They Do?
The main job of the Keres was to take the souls of people who died violently. Imagine a battlefield: when a soldier fell, a Keres might be there, ready to claim their soul. They were often described as being very eager and fierce in their work.
They were also sometimes thought to bring bad things like diseases or plagues. This made them even more feared by ancient Greeks. People believed that if a Keres was near, it meant bad luck or a terrible end was coming.
How Were They Described?
Ancient Greek writers and artists often showed the Keres as dark, shadowy figures. They were sometimes shown with wings, flying quickly over scenes of death and destruction. Their sharp teeth and claws made them look very dangerous and hungry for souls.
They were not always easy to tell apart from other scary creatures in Greek myths, like the Erinyes (Furies) or Harpies. However, the Keres were specifically linked to the moment of death and the snatching of a soul.
