Morpheus (mythology) facts for kids

Morpheus was a special god in Greek and Roman myths. He was known as the god of dreams. Morpheus could appear in human form in people's dreams. He would deliver messages from the gods to mortals.

Who is Morpheus?

Morpheus was one of the many children of Hypnos. Hypnos was the powerful god of sleep. His mother was Pasithea, the goddess of relaxation and rest. Morpheus had a very important job. He was responsible for shaping and sending dreams. He especially focused on dreams where people appeared.

The Oneiroi: Morpheus's Brothers

Morpheus was not the only god of dreams. He had two main brothers. Together, they were known as the Oneiroi. Each brother had a different role in dreams.

• Phobetor (also called Icelus) was the god of nightmares. He would appear in dreams as animals or monsters.
• Phantasos was the god of strange and unreal dreams. He would appear as inanimate objects. These could be rocks, water, or trees.

Morpheus, Phobetor, and Phantasos worked together. They made up the different kinds of dreams people experienced. Morpheus was the most famous of them. He was often seen as the leader.

Morpheus in Myths

Morpheus played a role in several ancient stories. One famous myth involves the story of Ceyx and Alcyone. This story shows how Morpheus could deliver important messages.

The Story of Ceyx and Alcyone

Ceyx was a king, and Alcyone was his loving wife. Ceyx decided to travel across the sea. He wanted to visit an oracle. Sadly, his ship was caught in a terrible storm. Ceyx drowned at sea.

The gods felt sad for Alcyone. She did not know her husband had died. Hera, the queen of the gods, sent a message to Hypnos. She asked him to send a dream to Alcyone. This dream would tell her the truth.

Hypnos then sent Morpheus to Alcyone. Morpheus took on the exact form of Ceyx. He appeared to Alcyone in her dream. Morpheus, looking like Ceyx, told her about his death. He explained how he had drowned. When Alcyone woke up, she rushed to the shore. She found Ceyx's body floating in the water.

This story shows Morpheus's power. He could perfectly imitate any human. This made him the ideal messenger for the gods. He could deliver news, even sad news, in a way that felt real.

Images for kids

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  Morpheus, painted by Jean-Bernard Restout

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  Aurora wakes Morpheus by Bartolomeo Altomonte (1769)

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  Evening or Morpheus by Charles Le Brun

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  Morpheus appears to Alcyone. Engraving (or etching more likely) by Bauer for Ovid's Metamorphoses Book XI, 633–676.

See also

In Spanish: Morfeo para niños