The concept of death was an important one in Greek mythology, and the mythology of the underworld and afterlife was well developed. The geography of Hades’ realm was described in many sources, as was the areas of the underworld in which eternity was to be spent. Death itself was also personified, with a deity, or daemon, associated with it; this deity being Thanatos.

In Ancient Greece, death was a relatively dark concept, and as such Thanatos is described as being the son of Nyx (Night), or the offspring of Nyx and Erebus (Darkness). This parentage also makes Thanatos notably the twin brother of Hypnos (Sleep), although Hesiod, in the Theogony, also mentions other siblings including the Moirai (Fates), Keres (the Death Fates), Geras (Old Age) and Eris (Strife).

The role of Thanatos was to collect the spirit of the deceased mortal when the Fates, and in particular Atropos, decided that the time of the individual was up. The spirit was then transported to the edge of the underworld, where from the journey for the deceased would continue. Thanatos is normally said to be associated with peaceful death, whilst violent death was more closely linked with the Keres, the “Hounds of Hades”.

With death being predestined, Thanatos was not thought of as being necessarily evil, although his arrival was something to be feared, as he could come when an individual was young or old.

It is of course easy to link Thanatos with the modern day interpretation of the Grim Reaper, and whilst the idea of the personification is the same, Thanatos was depicted differently. In Ancient Greece Thanatos was normally depicted as a winged, elderly man, occasionally with a sheathed sword by his side.

Thanatos is most famous for three separate stories from Greek mythology.

Thanatos and Sisyphus

The most famous story of Thanatos is one where he crosses the path of Sisyphus, the king of Corinth. Zeus angered by Sisyphus revealing his secrets, sent Thanatos to take the king to the underworld in chains. Sisyphus, being quick-witted, tricked Thanatos into showing him how the chains worked; and so Thanatos put the chains upon himself, and of course Sisyphus would not release him.

With Thanatos in chains, death did not come to anyone, and Ares was especially exasperated as battles with no death, meant no victor. Ares therefore came to release Thanatos, and Sisyphus died.

Sisyphus though thought ahead, and ordered his wife not to provide proper funeral rites for him, and so, once the king was in the underworld, he convinced Persephone to let him leave to scold his wife. Hermes eventually brought Sisyphus back to the underworld, and commenced his eternal punishment in Tartarus.

Thanatos and Heracles

Sisyphus showed that death could be outwitted, but Heracles also showed he could be out fought. King Admetos had been an amiable host to both Apollo and Heracles, and Apollo had arranged with the Fates that Admetos should not die at his allotted time if someone volunteered to take his place. When Thanatos came for Admetos, the king’s wife, Alcestis willingly took his place.

Heracles though went to the aid of his hosts, and so wrestled with Thanatos, until death relented, so that Admetos and Alcestis could go on living together.

Thanatos and Sarpedon

Thanatos also appeared in Homer’s Iliad, where the god is noted for having transported, along with Hypnos, the body of Sarpedon back to Lycia, after the Trojan hero had fallen in battle.

The personification of death was in keeping with the beliefs of Ancient Greece, which saw events explained due to the actions of a deity.