Who is the Greek god of death, the brother of Hypnos?

Thanatos is the Greek god and personification of death, and he is the brother—often specifically the twin brother—of Hypnos, the god of sleep.

In Hesiod’s Theogony, Thanatos and Hypnos are children of Nyx, the primordial goddess of Night. Their pairing reflects a familiar ancient contrast: sleep resembles death, yet it is temporary, while Thanatos represents the final end of mortal life. Some traditions also name Erebus, or Darkness, in their family background.

Thanatos is not the same figure as Hades. Hades is the ruler of the underworld and god of the dead, whereas Thanatos embodies the event or force of death itself. Charon, another common mix-up, is the ferryman who carries souls across the underworld’s rivers.

Ancient art often shows Thanatos beside Hypnos. On the Euphronios Krater, made around 515–510 BCE, the brothers carry the body of the fallen hero Sarpedon. Thanatos may appear winged, carrying an inverted torch or sword, while later art sometimes depicts him as a youthful figure.