Nyx, c.1930 (pastel on paper)

In Greek mythology, out of Chaos came Nyx, the goddess of the night, and Erebus, the God of the night. Erebus is the embodiment of primordial darkness and since he lived in the underworld he also came to represent the first region of Hades. Nyx is the very darkness of night itself - the black night. Their most significant offspring are Aether, the bright upper atmosphere, Hemera, Day; also Moros hateful Doom, Thanatos black Fate and Death, and Hypnos Sleep. Nyx also bore the Hesperides who guard the rich golden apples and the trees bearing fruit beyond the Ocean, and the Fates, Clotho the Spinner of the thread of life, Lachesis the Disposer of Lots and Atropos, who finally cuts the thread of life.