His name is the origin of the word hypnosis: Who is Hypnos or Somnus?

Hypnos, known as Somnus in Roman mythology, is depicted with a bowl of poppy water or flowers in his hand. In some depictions, Hypnos lies on the couch, surrounded by his sons, Phanatasos and Morpheus, who are the creators of dreams. In front of the house are poppy flowers and other soothing herbs. Hypnos and his sons live in a land where silence prevails and the only sound heard is the splashing of the waters of the 'Lethe' stream. The name of the Lethe stream is the origin of the word lethargy.

In Greek mythology, Hypnos also spelled Hypnus, is the personification of sleep; the Roman equivalent is known as Somnus. His name is the origin of the word hypnosis. Pausanias wrote that Hypnos was the dearest friend of the Muses.

Phanatasos, the son of Hypnos, is the origin of the words 'fantasy', which means dream product, and 'Phantom', which means ghost. His other son, Morpheus, is responsible for human dreams. According to some sources, Morpheus is the son of Nyks, according to some sources, the daughter of Zeus, Pasithea, the goddess responsible for rest and relaxation, and Hypnos, the god of sleep.

Homer draws a different portrait of Hypnos, the god of sleep. We mostly see Hypnos helping Hera; When Hera decides to be with Zeus at the top of Mount Ida, she finds Hypnos from the island of Lemnos and speaks with words and promises gifts to put Zeus to sleep. Another time, she asks Hypnos to put her husband Zeus to sleep so that she can attack Zeus' son Heracles. Hypnos usually refuses to anger Zeus because one of his lightning bolts came too close to him.