Also called Sopor, Hypnos (Greek).
Their story
Ovid describes the cave of Somnus in the land of the Cimmerians, where no sun reaches, and poppies and sleep-bringing herbs grow at the entrance. There is no sound but the stream of Lethe, and the god lies on a black couch surrounded by empty dreams. Juno sends Iris to ask him to show Alcyone the drowned Ceyx in a dream, and he sends his son Morpheus. In the Aeneid Somnus shakes a bough dripping with Lethe over the helmsman Palinurus.
Best times to give to them
- At bedtime
- In modern practice, Monday night, the day of Luna
What they like being given
- A dried poppy head
- Lavender
- Warm milk
- Quiet
How to honour them
- Say a short prayer to him before sleep.
- Keep the bedroom dim, quiet and tidy in his honour.
- Keep a notebook by the bed for dreams.
How they can help you
- Sleep
- Rest after strain
- Dreams
Symbols
- poppies
- horn of sleep
- branch dipped in Lethe
- wings
He had little or no public cult in Rome.
Sources
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 11
- Virgil, Aeneid 5
- Statius, Silvae 5.4
More Roman gods
- Jupiter Best and greatest, guardian of Rome
- Mars Father of Rome and guardian of fields
- Mercury Patron of merchants, messages and journeys
- Janus Two-faced god of doors and beginnings
- Saturn King of the golden age and lord of the harvest
- Sol Invictus The unconquered sun, reborn at midwinter
- Neptune Lord of fresh water and the sea
- Vulcan God of fire, both destroying and forging