In Greek mythology, Keres were the female spirits of violent or cruel death, including death in battle, by accident, murder or ravaging disease. The Keres were daughters of Erebus, the god of drakness, and Nyx, the goddess of night. In some version Keres were described as daughters of Nyx with no father. The Keres were described as formidable, dark, and hateful, because they carry off men to the joyless house of Hades.
The Keres were agents of The Moirae (Fates), birth-spirits who measured out the length of a man's life when he first entered the world, and Moros (Doom) the spirit who drove a man towards his inevitable destruction. They were described as dark beings with gnashing teeth and claws and with a thirst for human blood. They would hover over the battlefield and search for dying and wounded men.
Thousands of Keres haunted the battlefield, fighting among themselves like vultures over the dying. The Keres had no absolute power over the life of men, but in their hunger for blood would seek accomplish death beyond the bounds of fate. Zeus and the other gods, however, could stop them in their course or speed them on. The Olympian gods are often described standing by their favorites in battle, beating the clawing death spirits from them. Some of the Keres were personifications of epidemic diseases, which haunted areas riven by plague.
In some versions, Hecate goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, and ghost, was described as the mistress of the Keres. Hecate task was to keep the Keres in order and direct them in the brewing of magic potions.
In some versions, Keres were described as the evil spirits released from Pandora's jar to plague mankind.
In some versions, the Keres were described together with the Erinyes, as the goddesses who avenge the crimes of men.
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| Keres |
The Keres were agents of The Moirae (Fates), birth-spirits who measured out the length of a man's life when he first entered the world, and Moros (Doom) the spirit who drove a man towards his inevitable destruction. They were described as dark beings with gnashing teeth and claws and with a thirst for human blood. They would hover over the battlefield and search for dying and wounded men.
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| Keres |
Thousands of Keres haunted the battlefield, fighting among themselves like vultures over the dying. The Keres had no absolute power over the life of men, but in their hunger for blood would seek accomplish death beyond the bounds of fate. Zeus and the other gods, however, could stop them in their course or speed them on. The Olympian gods are often described standing by their favorites in battle, beating the clawing death spirits from them. Some of the Keres were personifications of epidemic diseases, which haunted areas riven by plague.
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| Hecate-goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon and ghost |
In some versions, Hecate goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, and ghost, was described as the mistress of the Keres. Hecate task was to keep the Keres in order and direct them in the brewing of magic potions.
In some versions, Keres were described as the evil spirits released from Pandora's jar to plague mankind.
In some versions, the Keres were described together with the Erinyes, as the goddesses who avenge the crimes of men.
INDEX
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