The Greek goddess Philotes was the daughter of Nyx. According to the Ancient Greek poet Hesiod, Philotes had no father. The Roman writer Hyginus, however, says that Philotes’ father was Erebus. Philotes had many siblings, including Hatred, Friendship, Discord and the three Fates.
Nyx was a goddess of the night. Her Latin name, Nox, means “night.” She is also the mother of Hypnos, the god of sleep. Erebus himself was a son of Chaos and Nyx’s companion. His name also represents the part of the underworld where the dead pass to directly after their deaths. The best translation of Erebus is believed to be “darkness.”
Philotes, her parents, and her siblings are considered to be part of the second generation of the “primordial” pantheon of gods. Their parents, Nyx and Erebus, were said to have existed at the beginning of time. Most of the more well-known Greek gods had parents that were part of the primordial pantheon. This includes Zeus and his brothers, Hades and Poseidon.
In mythology, the goddess Philotes was one of the driving forces of the creation of humankind. She was the force of good things. According to the Greek philosopher Empedocles, Philotes did not agree with blood sacrifices. She demanded that mankind stop the practice. In some of his writings, Empedocles associates Philotes with the more famous goddess of love, Aphrodite.
There are not many stories about Philotes. Hesiod tells that this minor goddess personified friendship, romantic friendship, and affection. The Roman lawyer Cicero wrote of another minor goddess, Gratia (or Favor) who many scholars believe is the same as Philotes.
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