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In Greek mythology, Erebus (/ˈɛrəbəs/;^[1] Ancient Greek: Ἔρεβος, romanized: Érebos, lit. '"darkness, gloom"'),^[2] or Erebos, is the personification of darkness. In Hesiod's Theogony, he is the offspring of Chaos, and the father of Aether and Hemera (Day) by Nyx (Night); in other Greek cosmogonies, he is the father of Aether, Eros, and Metis, or the first ruler of the gods. In genealogies given by Roman authors, he begets a large progeny of personifications upon Nox (the Roman equivalent of Nyx), while in an Orphic theogony he is the offspring of Chronos (Time). The name "Erebus" is also used to refer either to the darkness of the Underworld, the Underworld itself, or the region through which souls pass to reach Hades, and can sometimes be used as a synonym for Tartarus or Hades.

Etymology

The meaning of the word Erebos ( $Ἔρεβος$ ) is "darkness" or "gloom", referring to that of the Underworld.^[3] It derives from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁regʷ-os- ("darkness"), and is cognate with the Sanskrit rájas ("dark (lower) air, dust"), the Armenian erek ("evening"), the Gothic riqis, and the Old Norse røkkr ("dark, dust").^[4]

Personification of darkness

In a number of Greek cosmogonies, Erebus is described as one of the first beings to exist. In Hesiod's Theogony (late 8th century BC), which the Greeks considered the "standard" account of the origin of the gods,^[5] he is the offspring of Chaos, alongside Nyx (Night).^[6] In the first instance of sexual intercourse, he mates with Nyx, producing Aether and Hemera (Day),^[7] the pair of which represent the personified opposites of their parents.^[8] The Neoplatonist Damascius attributes to Acusilaus (6th century BCE) a cosmogony in which Chaos is the first principle, after which comes Erebus and Night, and from this pair are then born Aether, Eros, and Metis.^[9] The philosopher Philodemus records that in the work On the Gods by one "Satyros", Erebus is the first of five rulers of the gods, and is succeeded as sovereign by Chaos (though others have suggested this figure may be Eros).^[10] According to a hymn by the poet Antagoras (3rd century BCE), one of the possible parentages of Eros is Erebus and Night.^[11]

Erebus also features in genealogies given by Roman authors. According to Cicero (1st century BCE), Erebus and Nox (the Roman equivalent of Nyx) are the parents of Aether and Dies (Day), as well as Amor (Love), Dolus (Guile), Metus (Fear), Labor (Toil), Invidentia (Envy), Fatum (Fate), Senectus (Old Age), Mors (Death), Tenebrae (Darkness), Miseria (Misery), Querella (Lamentation), Gratia (Favour), Fraus (Fraud), Pertinacia (Obstinacy), the Parcae, the Hesperides, and the Somnia (Dreams).^[12] In the Fabulae by the Roman mythographer Hyginus (1st century BCE/CE), Erebus is the o1ffspring of Chaos and Caligo (Mist), alongside Dies (Day), Erebus (Darkness), and Aether.^[13] By Nox, he becomes the father of Fatum (Fate), Senectus (Old Age), Mors (Death), Letum (Destruction), Continentia (Strife), Somnus (Sleep), the Somnia (Dreams), Lysimeles (Thoughtfulness), Epiphron (Hedymeles), Porphyrion, Epaphus, Discordia (Discord), Miseria (Misery), Petulantia (Petulance), Nemesis, Euphrosyne (Cheerfulness), Amicitia (Friendship), Misericordia (Pity), Styx, the Parcae (Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos), and the Hesperides (Aegle, Hesperia, and Erythea).^[14]

In a cosmogony given by Aristophanes in his play The Birds (414 BCE), which is often believed to be a parody of an Orphic theogony,^[15] Erebus is one of the first deities to exist, alongside Chaos, Night, and Tartarus. At the beginning of creation, Night lays a "wind-egg" in the "boundless bosom of Erebus", from which springs golden-winged Eros.^[16]^[a]

In an Orphic theogony recorded by Damascius in his work De principiis (On First Principles), known as the Hieronyman Theogony (2nd century BCE?).^[17] Damascius states that the text is "referred to by Hieronymus and Hellanicus, unless he is the same person".^[18] Erebus, alongside Aether and Chaos, is the offspring of Chronos (Time), who has the form of a serpent.^[19]^[b]

Name or region of the Underworld

The name "Erebus" is often used by ancient authors to refer either to the darkness of the Underworld,^[20] to the Underworld itself,^[21] or to the subterranean region which souls of the dead travel through to reach Hades,^[22] and it is sometimes used synonymously with Tartarus or Hades.^[23] Homer uses the term to refer to the Underworld:^[24] in the Odyssey, souls of the dead are described as "gather[ing] from out of Erebus", on the shore of Oceanus at the edge of the Earth,^[25] while in the Iliad Erebus is the location in which the Erinyes live,^[26] and from which Heracles must fetch Cerberus.^[27] In the Theogony, it is the subterraneous place to which Zeus casts the Titan Menoetius (here meaning either Tartarus or Hades),^[28]^[c] and from which he later brings up the Hecatoncheires.^[29] In the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, Erebus is used to refer to Hades, the location in which the god Hades and his wife Persephone reside,^[30] while in Euripides' play Orestes, it is where the goddess Nyx lives.^[31] Later, in Roman literature, Ovid calls Proserpina the "queen of Erebus",^[32] and other authors use Erebus as a name for Hades.^[33]

Footnotes

^ Luján (2011), pp. 86–87 compares this progression of "Erebos – Egg – Eros" to the Indian Rigveda 10.129.3a–4b, in which Darkness exists in the beginning, and out of Darkness comes the "One", from which arises Desire.
^ Meisner (2018), p. 144 says that Chronos produces these children by Ananke (Necessity), though West (1966), p. 198 and Brisson (1995), I p. 396 consider Chronos alone to be the parent; Brisson (1995), V p. 55 also sees Orphic fr. 106 [Bernabé (2004), p. 114], from the later Orphic Rhapsodies, as alluding to Erebus; see also West (1966), pp. 230–231
^ According to Gantz (1996), p. 154, "it is not clear whether Hesiod means by this Tartaros, or that Menoitios met the fate of a mortal", while West (1966), p. 310, ln. 515 states that "whether [Erebus] means Tartarus or Hades here [...] depends on whether Hesiod thought of Menoitios as god or mortal", while Hard (2004) says that it refers to "the nether darkness, presumably of Tartaros".

References

^ Tripp (1970), p. 618
^ Montanari (2015), p. 815: $έρεβος$
^ Montanari (2015), p. 815: $έρεβος$
^ Beekes (2009), p. 451: $έρεβος$
^ Hard (2004), p. 21
^ Gantz (1996), p. 4; Hard (2004), p. 23; Hesiod, Theogony 123
^ Gantz (1996), p. 4; Hesiod, Theogony 124–125
^ Almqvist (2022), p. 37
^ Fowler (2013), pp. 5–6 ; Acusilaus, fr. 6b Fowler, p. 6 [= BNJ 2 F 6b = Damascius, De Principiis 124]
^ BNJ commentary on 20 F 2; BNJ 20 F 2
^ Athanassakis & Wolkow (2013), p. 172
^ Cicero, De Natura Deorum 3.44 (pp. 328, 329)
^ Hyginus, Fabulae; Hesiod, Theogony, 1.2–3 [Smith & Trzaskoma / Hyginus (2007), p. 95; Marshall / Hyginus (2002), p. 10]
^ Hyginus, Fabulae; Hesiod, Theogony, 1.2–8 [Smith & Trzaskoma / Hyginus (2007), p. 95; Marshall / Hyginus (2002), p. 10]
^ Brisson (1995), I pp. 390–391; Bernabé (2004), p. 73 on fr. 64; Chrysanthou (2020), p. 303
^ Brisson (1995), pp. 3–4; Luján (2011), p. 86; Aristophanes, Birds 693–699 (pp. 116–117) [= Orphic fr. 64V Bernabé (2004), pp. 73–75 = fr. 1 Kern]
^ Meisner (2018), p. 1, note 3
^ Meisner (2018), p. 122
^ Meisner (2018), pp. 126, 129; West (1966), p. 198–199; Brisson (1995), I p. 395; Orphic fr. 78 Bernabé (2004), p. 88 [= fr. 54 Kern]
^ Tripp (1970), p. 228 s.v. "Erebus"; Hard (2004), p. 23; Montanari (2015), p. 815: $έρεβος$
^ Hard (2004), p. 23–24; Morford, p. 371
^ Smith (1873), s.v. "E'rebos"; Coulter & Turner (2012), p. 170 s.v. "Erebus"; cf. LSJ, s.v. " $Ἔρεβος$ ": "a place of nether darkness, forming a passage from Earth to Hades".
^ Tripp (1970), p. 228 s.v. "Erebus"; Brill's New Pauly, s.v. "Underworld"; Morford, p. 57; Coulter & Turner (2012), p. 170 s.v. "Erebus"
^ Gantz (1996), p. 4
^ Gantz (1996), p. 123; Homer, Odyssey 11.37
^ Homer, Iliad 9.571–572; see also Seneca (2018b), "Octavia" pp 614–615 ln. 965 ; which calls the Furies the "goddesses of Erebus".
^ Homer, Iliad 8.368
^ Gantz (1996), p. 154; Hard (2004), p. 49; Hesiod, Theogony 514–515
^ Gantz (1996), p. 4; Hesiod, Theogony 669
^ West (1966), p. 310, ln 515 Homeric Hymn to Demeter (2), 335; see also 349, 409
^ Euripides, Orestes 176 (pp. 430, 431)
^ Ovid, Metamorphoses 5.543 (pp. 276, 275)
^ Petronius, Satyricon, 254 (pp. 354, 355); Silius Italicus, Punica, 1.92 (pp. 10, 11); see also Claudian, Rape of Proserpina 32 (pp. 294, 295); Seneca, Hercules on Oeta, 1369 (pp. 454, 455)

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Coulter, Charles Russell; Turner, Patricia (2012). Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities. Routledge. ISBN 1-57958-270-2.

Euripides (2002). "Orestes". In Kovacs, David (ed.). Helen / Phoenician Women / Orestes. Loeb Classical Library. Vol. 11. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-99600-7 – via Harvard University Press (loebclassics.com).

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Gantz, T. (1996). Early Greek Myth: A guide to literary and artistic sources. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. In two volumes; vol. 1: ISBN 978-0-8018-5360-9; vol 2: ISBN 978-0-8018-5362-3.

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Homer (1919). The Odyssey with an English Translation. Translated by Murray, A.T., Ph.D. Cambridge, MA / London, UK: Harvard University Press / William Heinemann, Ltd. – via Perseus Digital Library.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: translators list (link)

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Hyginus, Gaius Julius (2007). "Fabulae". Apollodorus' "Library" and Hyginus' "Fabulae": Two handbooks of Greek mythology, translated, with introductions. Translated by Smith, R. Scott; Trzaskoma, Stephen M. Hackett Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-87220-821-6.

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[17] Luján (2011), pp. 86–87 compares this progression of "Erebos – Egg – Eros" to the Indian Rigveda 10.129.3a–4b, in which Darkness exists in the beginning, and out of Darkness comes the "One", from which arises Desire.

[21] Meisner (2018), p. 144 says that Chronos produces these children by Ananke (Necessity), though West (1966), p. 198 and Brisson (1995), I p. 396 consider Chronos alone to be the parent; Brisson (1995), V p. 55 also sees Orphic fr. 106 [Bernabé (2004), p. 114], from the later Orphic Rhapsodies, as alluding to Erebus; see also West (1966), pp. 230–231

[31] According to Gantz (1996), p. 154, "it is not clear whether Hesiod means by this Tartaros, or that Menoitios met the fate of a mortal", while West (1966), p. 310, ln. 515 states that "whether [Erebus] means Tartarus or Hades here [...] depends on whether Hesiod thought of Menoitios as god or mortal", while Hard (2004) says that it refers to "the nether darkness, presumably of Tartaros".

[1] Tripp (1970), p. 618

[2] Montanari (2015), p. 815: $έρεβος$

[3] Montanari (2015), p. 815: $έρεβος$

[4] Beekes (2009), p. 451: $έρεβος$

[5] Hard (2004), p. 21

[6] Gantz (1996), p. 4; Hard (2004), p. 23; Hesiod, Theogony 123

[7] Gantz (1996), p. 4; Hesiod, Theogony 124–125

[8] Almqvist (2022), p. 37

[9] Fowler (2013), pp. 5–6 ; Acusilaus, fr. 6b Fowler, p. 6 [= BNJ 2 F 6b = Damascius, De Principiis 124]

[10] BNJ commentary on 20 F 2; BNJ 20 F 2

[11] Athanassakis & Wolkow (2013), p. 172

[12] Cicero, De Natura Deorum 3.44 (pp. 328, 329)

[13] Hyginus, Fabulae; Hesiod, Theogony, 1.2–3 [Smith & Trzaskoma / Hyginus (2007), p. 95; Marshall / Hyginus (2002), p. 10]

[14] Hyginus, Fabulae; Hesiod, Theogony, 1.2–8 [Smith & Trzaskoma / Hyginus (2007), p. 95; Marshall / Hyginus (2002), p. 10]

[15] Brisson (1995), I pp. 390–391; Bernabé (2004), p. 73 on fr. 64; Chrysanthou (2020), p. 303

[16] Brisson (1995), pp. 3–4; Luján (2011), p. 86; Aristophanes, Birds 693–699 (pp. 116–117) [= Orphic fr. 64V Bernabé (2004), pp. 73–75 = fr. 1 Kern]

[18] Meisner (2018), p. 1, note 3

[19] Meisner (2018), p. 122

[20] Meisner (2018), pp. 126, 129; West (1966), p. 198–199; Brisson (1995), I p. 395; Orphic fr. 78 Bernabé (2004), p. 88 [= fr. 54 Kern]

[22] Tripp (1970), p. 228 s.v. "Erebus"; Hard (2004), p. 23; Montanari (2015), p. 815: $έρεβος$

[23] Hard (2004), p. 23–24; Morford, p. 371

[24] Smith (1873), s.v. "E'rebos"; Coulter & Turner (2012), p. 170 s.v. "Erebus"; cf. LSJ, s.v. " $Ἔρεβος$ ": "a place of nether darkness, forming a passage from Earth to Hades".

[25] Tripp (1970), p. 228 s.v. "Erebus"; Brill's New Pauly, s.v. "Underworld"; Morford, p. 57; Coulter & Turner (2012), p. 170 s.v. "Erebus"

[26] Gantz (1996), p. 4

[27] Gantz (1996), p. 123; Homer, Odyssey 11.37

[28] Homer, Iliad 9.571–572; see also Seneca (2018b), "Octavia" pp 614–615 ln. 965 ; which calls the Furies the "goddesses of Erebus".

[29] Homer, Iliad 8.368

[30] Gantz (1996), p. 154; Hard (2004), p. 49; Hesiod, Theogony 514–515

[32] Gantz (1996), p. 4; Hesiod, Theogony 669

[33] West (1966), p. 310, ln 515 Homeric Hymn to Demeter (2), 335; see also 349, 409

[34] Euripides, Orestes 176 (pp. 430, 431)

[35] Ovid, Metamorphoses 5.543 (pp. 276, 275)

[36] Petronius, Satyricon, 254 (pp. 354, 355); Silius Italicus, Punica, 1.92 (pp. 10, 11); see also Claudian, Rape of Proserpina 32 (pp. 294, 295); Seneca, Hercules on Oeta, 1369 (pp. 454, 455)

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@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 {{harvp|Almqvist|2022|p=37}}
 </ref>
-The Neoplatonist [[Damascius]] attributes to [[Acusilaus]] (6th century BC) a cosmogony in which Chaos is the first principle, after which comes Erebus and Night, and from this pair are then born Aether, [[Eros]], and [[Metis (mythology)|Metis]].<ref>
+The [[Neoplatonist]] [[Damascius]] attributes to [[Acusilaus]] (6th&nbsp;century {{sc|BCE}}) a cosmogony in which Chaos is the first principle, after which comes Erebus and Night, and from this pair are then born [[Aether (mythology)|Aether]], [[Eros]], and [[Metis (mythology)|Metis]].<ref>
-{{harvp|Fowler|2013|pp= [https://books.google.com/books?id=scd8AQAAQBAJ&pg=PA5 5–6]}};
+{{harvp|Fowler|2013|pp= [https://books.google.com/books?id=scd8AQAAQBAJ&pg=PA5  5–6 ] }};
-[[Acusilaus]], [https://books.google.com/books?id=j0nRE4C2WBgC&pg=PA6 fr. 6b Fowler, p. 6] [= ''[[Brill's New Jacoby|BNJ]]'' [https://scholarlyeditions.brill.com/reader/urn:cts:greekLit:fgrh.0002.bnjo-3-tr1-eng:f6b 2 F6b] = [[Damascius]], ''De Principiis'' 124]
+[[Acusilaus]], [https://books.google.com/books?id=j0nRE4C2WBgC&pg=PA6 fr. 6b Fowler, p. 6] [= ''[[Brill's New Jacoby|BNJ]]'' [https://scholarlyeditions.brill.com/reader/urn:cts:greekLit:fgrh.0002.bnjo-3-tr1-eng:f6b 2 F&nbsp;6b] = [[Damascius]], ''De Principiis'' 124]
 </ref>
-The philosopher [[Philodemus]] records that in the work ''On the Gods'' by one "Satyros", Erebus is the first of five rulers of the gods, and is succeeded as sovereign by Chaos (though others have suggested this figure may be Eros).<ref>
+The philosopher [[Philodemus]] records that in the work ''On the Gods'' by one "Satyros", Erebus is the first of five rulers of the gods, and is succeeded as sovereign by Chaos (though others have suggested this figure may be [[Eros]]).<ref>
-''[[Brill's New Jacoby|BNJ]]'' [https://scholarlyeditions.brill.com/reader/urn:cts:greekLit:fgrh.0020.bnjo-3-comm3-eng:f2 commentary on 20 F2];
+''[[Brill's New Jacoby|BNJ]]'' [https://scholarlyeditions.brill.com/reader/urn:cts:greekLit:fgrh.0020.bnjo-3-comm3-eng:f2 commentary on 20 F&nbsp;2];
-''[[Brill's New Jacoby|BNJ]]'' [https://scholarlyeditions.brill.com/reader/urn:cts:greekLit:fgrh.0020.bnjo-2-tr1-eng:f2 20 F2]
+''[[Brill's New Jacoby|BNJ]]'' [https://scholarlyeditions.brill.com/reader/urn:cts:greekLit:fgrh.0020.bnjo-2-tr1-eng:f2 20 F&nbsp;2]
 </ref>
-According to a hymn by the poet [[Antagoras of Rhodes|Antagoras]] (3rd century BC), one of the possible parentages of Eros is Erebus and Night.<ref>
+According to a hymn by the poet [[Antagoras of Rhodes|Antagoras]] (3rd&nbsp;century {{sc|BCE}}), one of the possible parentages of Eros is Erebus and Night.<ref>
-Athanassakis and Wolkow, [https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780891301196/page/172/mode/2up?view=theater p. 172]
+{{harvp|Athanassakis|Wolkow|2013|p= [https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780891301196/page/172/mode/2up?view=theater 172] }}
 </ref>
-Erebus also features in genealogies given by Roman authors. According to [[Cicero]] (1st century BC), Erebus and Nox (the Roman equivalent of Nyx) are the parents of Aether and [[Dies (mythology)|Dies]] (Day), as well as Amor (Love), Dolus (Guile), Metus (Fear), Labor (Toil), Invidentia (Envy), Fatum (Fate), Senectus (Old Age), Mors (Death), Tenebrae (Darkness), Miseria (Misery), Querella (Lamentation), Gratia (Favour), Fraus (Fraud), Pertinacia (Obstinacy), the Parcae, the [[Hesperides]], and the Somnia (Dreams).<ref>
+Erebus also features in genealogies given by Roman authors. According to [[Cicero]] (1st&nbsp;century {{sc|BCE}}), Erebus and Nox (the Roman equivalent of [[Nyx]]) are the parents of [[Aether (mythology)|Aether]] and [[Dies (mythology)|Dies]] (Day), as well as [[Amor (mythology)|Amor]] (Love), [[Dolus (mythology)|Dolus]] (Guile), [[Metus]] (Fear), [[Labor (mythology)|Labor]] (Toil), [[Invidentia]] (Envy), [[Fatum (mythology)|Fatum]] (Fate), [[Senectus (mythology)|Senectus]] (Old Age), [[Mors (mythology)|Mors]] (Death), [[Tenebrae]] (Darkness), [[Miseria (mythology)|Miseria]] (Misery), [[Querella (mythology)|Querella]] (Lamentation), [[Gratia (goddess)|Gratia]] (Favour), [[Fraus]] (Fraud), [[Pertinacia (mythology)|Pertinacia]] (Obstinacy), the [[Parcae]], the [[Hesperides]], and the [[Somnia (mythology)|Somnia]] (Dreams).<ref>
 [[Cicero]], ''[[De Natura Deorum]]'' [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/marcus_tullius_cicero-de_natura_deorum/1933/pb_LCL268.329.xml 3.44 (pp. 328, 329)]
 </ref>
-In the ''[[Fabulae]]'' by the Roman mythographer [[Hyginus]] (1st century BC/AD), Erebus is the o1ffspring of Chaos and Caligo (Mist), alongside Dies (Day), Erebus (Darkness), and Aether.<ref>
+In the ''[[Fabulae]]'' by the Roman mythographer [[Hyginus]] (1st century {{sc|BCE}}/{{sc|CE}}), Erebus is the o1ffspring of Chaos and Caligo (Mist), alongside Dies (Day), Erebus (Darkness), and Aether.<ref>
 [[Hyginus]], ''[[Fabulae]]'';
-[[Hesiod]], ''[[Theogony]]'', 1.2–3 (Smith & Trzaskoma / {{harvp|Hyginus|2007|p= 95 }}; Marshall / {{harvp|Hyginus|2002|p= 10 }})
+[[Hesiod]], ''[[Theogony]]'', 1.2–3 [Smith & Trzaskoma / {{harvp|Hyginus|2007|p= 95 }}; Marshall / {{harvp|Hyginus|2002|p= 10 }}<nowiki/>]
 </ref>
-By Nox, he becomes the father of Fatum (Fate), Senectus (Old Age), Mors (Death), Letum (Destruction), Continentia (Strife), Somnus (Sleep), the Somnia (Dreams), Lysimeles (Thoughtfulness), Epiphron (Hedymeles), Porphyrion, Epaphus, Discordia (Discord), Miseria (Misery), Petulantia (Petulance), Nemesis, Euphrosyne (Cheerfulness), Amicitia (Friendship), Misericordia (Pity), [[Styx]], the Parcae (Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos), and the Hesperides (Aegle, Hesperia, and Erythea).<ref>
+By Nox, he becomes the father of Fatum (Fate), Senectus (Old Age), Mors (Death), Letum (Destruction), Continentia (Strife), Somnus (Sleep), the Somnia (Dreams), Lysimeles (Thoughtfulness), Epiphron (Hedymeles), Porphyrion, Epaphus, Discordia (Discord), Miseria (Misery), Petulantia (Petulance), Nemesis, Euphrosyne (Cheerfulness), Amicitia (Friendship), Misericordia (Pity), [[Styx]], the [[Parcae]] (Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos), and the [[Hesperides]] (Aegle, Hesperia, and Erythea).<ref>
 [[Hyginus]], ''[[Fabulae]]'';
-[[Hesiod]], ''[[Theogony]]'', 1.2–8 (Smith & Trzaskoma / {{harvp|Hyginus|2007|p= 95 }}; Marshall / {{harvp|Hyginus|2002|p= 10 }})
+[[Hesiod]], ''[[Theogony]]'', 1.2–8 [Smith & Trzaskoma / {{harvp|Hyginus|2007|p= 95 }}; Marshall / {{harvp|Hyginus|2002|p= 10 }}<nowiki/>]
 </ref>
-In a cosmogony given by [[Aristophanes]] in his play ''[[The Birds (play)|The Birds]]'' (414 BC), which is often believed to be a parody of an Orphic theogony,<ref>
+In a cosmogony given by [[Aristophanes]] in his play ''[[The Birds (play)|The Birds]]'' (414 {{sc|BCE}}), which is often believed to be a parody of an Orphic theogony,<ref>
-{{harvp|Brisson|1995|at=I pp. 390–391}};
+{{harvp|Brisson|1995|at=I pp.&nbsp;390–391}};
-{{harvp|Bernabé|2004|p=73}} on fr. 64;
+{{harvp|Bernabé|2004|p=73}} on fr.&nbsp;64;
-Chrysanthou, p. 303
+{{harvp|Chrysanthou|2020|p= 303 }}
 </ref>
 Erebus is one of the first deities to exist, alongside Chaos, Night, and [[Tartarus]]. At the beginning of creation, Night lays a "wind-egg" in the "boundless bosom of Erebus", from which springs golden-winged Eros.<ref>
 {{harvp|Brisson|1995|pp=3–4}};
 {{harvp|Luján|2011|p=86}};
-[[Aristophanes]], ''[[The Birds (play)|Birds]]'' [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/aristophanes-birds/2000/pb_LCL179.117.xml 693–699 (pp. 116, 117)]
+[[Aristophanes]], ''[[The Birds (play)|Birds]]'' [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/aristophanes-birds/2000/pb_LCL179.117.xml 693–699 (pp.&nbsp;116–117)]
-[= Orphic fr. 64V {{harvp|Bernabé|2004|pp=73–75}} = [https://archive.org/details/orphicorumfragme00orphuoft/page/80/mode/2up?view=theater fr. 1 Kern]]
+[= Orphic fr.&nbsp;64V {{harvp|Bernabé|2004|pp=73–75}} = [https://archive.org/details/orphicorumfragme00orphuoft/page/80/mode/2up?view=theater fr.&nbsp;1 Kern]<nowiki/>]
 </ref>{{efn|
 {{harvp|Luján|2011|pp=86–87}} compares this progression of "Erebos – Egg – Eros" to the Indian ''[[Rigveda]]'' 10.129.3a–4b, in which Darkness exists in the beginning, and out of Darkness comes the "One", from which arises Desire.
 }}
-In an Orphic theogony recorded by [[Damascius]] in his work ''De principiis'' (''On First Principles''), known as the [[Hieronyman Theogony]] (2nd century BC?).<ref>
+In an Orphic theogony recorded by [[Damascius]] in his work ''De principiis'' (''On First Principles''), known as the [[Hieronyman Theogony]] (2nd&nbsp;century {{sc|BCE}}?).<ref>
 {{harvp|Meisner|2018|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=wgJfDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1 1, note&nbsp;3 ] }}
 </ref>
@@ Line 78: / Line 78: @@
 {{harvp|West|1966|p=198–199}};
 {{harvp|Brisson|1995|at=I p. 395}};
-Orphic fr. 78 {{harvp|Bernabé|2004|p=88}} [= [https://archive.org/details/orphicorumfragme00orphuoft/page/130/mode/2up?view=theater fr. 54 Kern]]
+Orphic fr. 78 {{harvp|Bernabé|2004|p=88}} [= [https://archive.org/details/orphicorumfragme00orphuoft/page/130/mode/2up?view=theater fr.&nbsp;54 Kern]<nowiki/>]
 </ref>{{efn|
 {{harvp|Meisner|2018|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=wgJfDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA144 144] }} says that Chronos produces these children by [[Ananke]] (Necessity), though {{harvp|West|1966|p=198}} and {{harvp|Brisson|1995|at= I p. 396 }} consider Chronos alone to be the parent; {{harvp|Brisson|1995|at=V p. 55}} also sees Orphic fr. 106 <nowiki>[</nowiki>{{harvp|Bernabé|2004|p=114}}<nowiki>],</nowiki> from the later Orphic [[Rhapsodies (Orphic literature)|Rhapsodies]], as alluding to Erebus;