Aether (Aithêr Greek for Ether), in Greek mythology, is one of the Protogenos (first-born) the personification of the "upper sky", space and heaven, the elemental god of the Bright, Glowing, Upper Air.

He is the pure, upper air that the gods breathe, as opposed to "aer" (the gloomy lower air of the Earth), which mortals breathed.

In Hesiod's Theogony he was the son of Erebus and Nyx, and brother of Hemera, both noted in passing in Cicero's De Natura deorum, but Hyginus Pref mentioned Khaos as his parent. He is the soul of the world and all life emanates from him. The aether was also known as Zeus' defensive wall; the bound that locked Tartaros from the cosmos.

Etymology: His name means "light/ upper air", his other name is Akmôn which means "untiring/ anvil". There are two different spelling of his name. First the Latin one: Aether, Acmon and second the English: Ether.

His mother Nyx (Night) drew the dark mists of Erebos across the sky beneath him to create night, while his sister Hemera (Day) drew away these mists to reveal his shining glow and bring the day. Night and day were regarded as independent of the sun in the ancient theogonies. He has several offspring but Hyginus seem to confuse him with Ouranos when saying that Aither has many children by Gaia. Hyginus is also our source for telling us that Aither is the father of Ouranos, Gaia and Thalassa by Hemera (his sister. But another source tells us that it is just Ouranos who is his child. And like Tartaros and Erebos, He too became the personification of his element and is mentioned in this way. In Hellas He might had shrines but no temples and probably no cult either. In the Orphic hymns, He is mentioned as the soul of the world from which all life emanates. As Akmon, Callimachus who calls Ouranos Akmonides is called him the father of Ouranos. Eustathius in Alcman tells us that the sons of Ouranos were called Akmonidai.

External links

• Theoi Project profile of Aither.

Greek gods | Greek mythology

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