InGreek mythology,Epiales (Ancient Greek:Ἠπιάλης,romanized: Epiálēs) was the spirit (daemon) and personification ofnightmares. Alternate spellings of the name wereEpialos (Ἠπίαλος),Epioles (Ἠπιόλης),Epialtes (Ἐπιάλτης) orEphialtes (Ἐφιάλτης).
Epiales was probably numbered amongst theOneiroi (Dream-Spirits) and thus one of the sons of the goddessNyx (Night).
Epiales was also known asMelas Oneiros (Black Dream).[1]
"The wordsepialos,epiales andepioles denote (1) the feverish chill (2) the daimon who assaults sleepers. Homer and most writers haveepioles with thee; the form in -os means something different, namely the feverish chill . . .Alkaios (Alcaeus) called itepialos.Apollonios says that Epialtes itself (the nighmare daimon) is called Epiales and by a change ofa too Epioles."[2]"[The goddessGaia (Earth) is invoked to drive away a nightmare :] Like a spider, he [a rapist] is carrying me [a woman] seaward step by step--a nightmare (oneiros), a black nightmare (melas oneiros)! Oh! Oh! Mother Earth (Ma Ge), mother Earth (Ma Ge), avert his fearful cries! O fatherZeus, son of Ge (Earth)!"[3]
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