InGreek mythology,Philotes (/ˈfɪlətiːz/;Ancient Greek:Φιλότης) was a minor goddess or spirit (daimones) personifyingaffection,friendship, andsexual intercourse.
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This minor goddess also gave her name to a genus ofbutterflies native toNorth America,[1] which contains a single species,Philotes sonorensis.
InHesiod'sTheogony, Philotes is described as one of the children ofNyx (Night).[2] In later genealogies given by Roman authors, she is the offspring ofErebus (Darkness) and Nox (the Roman name for Nyx).[3] Her siblings are said to be, among others,Apate (Deceit),Nemesis (Indignation), andEris (Strife)
According toHesiod'sTheogony, she represented sexual and social intercourse. Her siblings are said to be, among others,Apate (Deceit) andNemesis (Indignation).[4] She was described byEmpedocles as one of the driving forces behind creation, being paired together withEris (Feuds); Philotes being the force behind good things and Eris being the force of bad things.[5] He also identifies her withKypris (Aphrodite)[6] and mentions that Philotes feels hurt and offended by life-destroying offerings and demands the abstention from animal sacrifices.[7]