The Myths of Thanatos

Mύθοι του Θανάτου

The Myths of Thanatos

Thanatos in Greek mythology represents a minor figure as the God of Death and is barely referenced. He was mostly expelled by Hades, the God of the underworld and was hated by both Gods and mortals as he showed no mercy, nor did he discriminate. He was the son of the Goddess of Night, Nyx, and the God of Darkness, Erebus, and the twin brother of Hypnos, the God of Sleep. Thanatos would appear to humans and with his gentle touch which was likened to by his twin brother, would carry them to the underworld where they would then wait for their fate.

There are no myths specifically about the God of Death, Thanatos, but he is referenced in two. Thanatos appeared in the myth of Sisyphus, the King of Corinth who wanted a second chance in life. After angering Zeus, God of the Sky, Thanatos was commanded to chain him in the Underworld however, Sisyphus would turn the tables and trap the God of Death in chains resulting in death to perish from the mortal world. Angered by this, Ares the God of War would free him so that death can return, and Thanatos could fulfill his duties and bring Sisyphus to his eternal punishment.

Another myth results in Thanatos’ defeat where he was sent to collect the mortal soul of Alcestis, wife of Admetus the King of Pherae, as she fell gravely ill. Thanatos was defeated by Heracles who would not permit the death of his friend’s wife although Thanatos still took their lives after they had lived it.

EXTRACT ALLEGORY

Thanatos’ Allegory is that death cannot be avoided regardless of how hard we try to prevent it. This is emphasised in both myths as Sisyphus wanted a second chance at life and proceeded to trap death but was foiled and death still approached him. The same can go for Alcestis as even though she was spared and continued to live on, death still approached both her and Admetus. I want to transfer the being of Death rising and falling to and from the Underworld symbolising Thanatos’ arrival for souls and departure with said souls.

REFERENCES

Thanatos Images adapted from Video Games

Images of Thanatos from Midjourney

Images of the Underworld found online

Thanatos vs Heracles from Midjourney

Thanatos and Hades in the Underworld from Midjourney

Images of Thanatos from Midjourney

Thanatos in the Underworld from Midjourney

Thanatos being chained up from Midjourney

Thanatos carved in Stone

Thanatos illustrated at a Museum

The Goddess of the Night Nyx and the God of Darkness Erebus get together and have many children.

MYTH OF ALCESTIS

Thanatos was born along side his twin brother Hypnos, the God of Sleep.

MYTH OF SISYPHUS

Thanatos was given a task to collect the soul of Alcestis who had fallen ill.

Sisyphus had angered Zeus, the God of the Sky, who ordered Thanatos to go and chain Sisyphus in the Underworld.

Thanatos was stopped by Heracles who prevented Thanatos from claiming her soul as a personal request.

Sisyphus ended up chaining Thanatos himself so that he could continue living causing Ares, God of War, to be enraged and break Thanatos free to capture Sisyphus.

EXPERIMENTATION

The Allegory for Thanatos is Death, however the way to interperate this is with an up and down motion representing Thanatos rising and falling, to and from the Underworld. This is accomplished by using Cranks and Rods to interperate the motion of rising and falling with a gear motion.

GEOMETRY NARRATIVE FORM

Similar to Death, Flowers both rise and fall and also are gentle much like the God of Death Thanatos.

Rectangular shape is the 2D form of the rise and form action.

As Thanatos’ touch is gentle, the rectangular form has curves as they represent gentleness in both forms of digital and material forms.

Gentle touch from Thanatos Myth

Gentle fabric to allow some sunlight through.

Up and Down motion drawing people in for Thanatos’ system of rising and departuring

Continued the emphasis on the gentle curves by curving the 2D rectangle into a 3D form.

Variation A Variation B

Variation A explored a simple curved aspect of the contraption allowing for the gentleness to be clear as well as trying ideas for the materials in the curve.

Variation A with fabric that allows sunlight to pass through in small quantities looks and seams better than with plywood framing which is also curved. The difference between the fabric iteration and plywood iteration of Variation A is that less sunlight comes through with plywood framing but is curved bettwe with fabric.

JOINT DETAIL

Variation B explored multiple curves for the contraption allowing for more of a unique feel as well as a bit of gentleness with the same materials.

Variation B with fabric still allows some sunlight to pass through however it still appears much like the plywood framing as using more fabric in Variation B would be unwise with sudden wind speeds and strength.

With the joinery details for connecting the contraption not only together but also to walls, I have made 3 different variations.

Variation Joinery A is how a single contraption can be installed to the wall a building through drilling it into the wall.

Variation Joinery B is how the contraption can be installed to the wall when their is 4 or even 9 of them, this however is only for wall installation and not on glass.

Variation Joinery C is how the contraption can tackle with installing itself onto glss with rubber footings to ensure that the glass is not damages as it would be secured on the outsides of the window.