The Oneiroi
The Oneiroi are the Greek gods of dreams. The Oneiroi consists of three main figures (who also happen to be brothers) that rule dreams.
The Oneiroi are primordial deities, who according to Hesiod are the product of the primordial goddess and personification of night, Nyx, and her alone. According to Ovid’s “Metamorphoses”, their father is Somnus the Roman god and personification of sleep.
The Oneiroi reside in Hades, the underworld in Greek Mythology . The Oneiroi leave the underworld as bats until they pass through their corresponding gate.
Dreams that are meaningful or god sent, pass through a gate made of horns. Whereas meaningless and deceitful dreams pass through an ivory gate.
Morpheus
“Morpheus, who had such skill in miming any human form at will. No other Dream (Oneiroi, Morpheus’s brother) can match his artistry in counterfeiting men: their voice, their gait, their face — their moods; and, too, he imitates their dress precisely and the words they use most frequently. But he mimes only men…” (Ovid’s Metamorphoses)
Morpheus is the Greek god of dreams and leader of The Oneiroi. He is the god that influences the dreams of heroes, kings, and other gods. He is also the god that brings prophetic dreams to humans. As Ovid so beautifully put, Morpheus is the only one out of his brothers who is able to appear in dreams in human form. Morpheus passes through the gate of horns, as his dreams are true and posses divine meaning.
Phobetor
Phobetor, also known as the “frightner” or god of nightmares, is behind and responsible for all nightmares and phobias. He is particularly associated with nightmares involving animals or monsters, as that is the form he takes on when appearing in dreams. Phobetor is believed to behind the experiences of sleep paralysis. A case of sleep paralysis and its attributed demonic animal and monster figure is depicted in Henry Fusseli’s painting, “The Nightmare”. It is Phobetor who passes through the ivory gate, as the dreams he brings are meaningless.
Phantasos
Phantasos is the god of unreal dreams. Phantasos differs from his brother Phobetor, whose purpose is to stir and cause fear, as his role is play to people’s fantasies and cause confusion. Phantasos is behind dreams that are believed to be symbols or messages from gods.
