Phobos is the personification of fear in Greek mythology. Timor or Timorus is his Roman equivalent. In Roman mythological legends, he is also presented under the name Pavor.
1. Genealogy
Phobos is the son of Aphrodite and Ares. This can be seen in Hesiod’s Theogony: “Also Kytherea Aphrodite naked to Ares, the shield-piercer Phobos” (Atsma). Ares was accompanied in battle by his sister Eris, Phobos, and Deimos.
Name Relationship
The genealogy of Phobos is shown below:
- Uranus’s Grandfather (Father of Aphrodite)
- Grandfather Zeus (Father of Ares)
- Hera Grandmother (Mother of Ares)
- Ares Father
- Mother Aphrodite
- Deimos (Twins) Brother
- Anteros, Himerus, Brothers Pothos
- Sister Harmonia
- Sister Adrestia
- Brother Eros
- Half-brother of Ascalaphus
- Aunt Enyo
- Aunt Eileithyia
- Uncle Hephaestus
- Aunt Hebe
- Aunt Eris
- Aunt Angelos
2. Worship
Those who worshipped Phobos often made bloody sacrifices in his name. The son of Ares, Kyknos, “beheaded some strangers who came to build a temple to Phobos (fear) from their skulls.” (Atsma).
3. Depictions
Phobos is often depicted with a lion’s head or a lion-like head.
Astronomy
The American astronomer Asaph Hall named a satellite of the planet Mars “Phobos,” which he discovered along with Mars’ second satellite, “Deimos,” in 1877.
Psychology
In the field of the study of the psyche, this Olympian god is related to the word “phobia,” which derives from phobias, meaning fear.
The Iliad
There are many places in the Iliad where Homer mentions the presence of Phobos and Deimos. Some of them are:
Homer, Iliad 11. 36 ff: “[Agamemnon’s shield:] And he took the rigid and elaborate shield that enclosed the man, a thing of splendor. There were ten circles of bronze on it, and around it were twenty knobs of tin, pale in color, and in the center was another knob of dark cobalt. And in the middle of it all was the white face of the Gorgon with her gaze of horror, and Deimos (Terror) was inscribed on it, and Phobos (Fear).
4. The gods of fear
Deimos and Phobos were the gods or personified spirits (daimones) of fear. Deimos represented terror and dread, while his brother Phobos was panic, flight, and escape. In classical art, the two were usually depicted as unremarkable youths, although Phobos was sometimes given the head of a lion or lion-like features.
5. Quotes from Classical Literature
Phobias and Deimos, personifications of fear and terror, depicted in the Iliad and other Greek poems
Homer, Iliad 11. 36 ff:
“And he took the rigid and elaborate shield that enclosed the man, a thing of splendor. There were ten circles of bronze on it, and around it were twenty knobs of tin, pale in color, and in the center was another knob of dark cobalt. And in the middle of it all was the white face of Gorgon with her look of horror, and Deimos (Fear) was inscribed on it, and Phobos (Terror).”
Homer, Iliad 13. 298 ff:
“As Ares is when he enters battle and Phobos (Terror) follows at his side, his beloved son, the mighty and fearless one, who frightens even the patient-hearted warrior: these two go forth from Thrace to meet in arms with the Ephyroi or the Phlegyans of great heart, but the two do not listen to the prayers of either side, but give glory to one side or the other.”
Homer, Iliad 15. 119 ff:
“So he [Ares] spoke, and commanded Deimos (Fear) and Phobos (Terror) to harness their horses, and he himself put on his shining armor.”
“Also Kytherea (Cytherea) [Aphrodite] stripped Ares of the shields Phobos (Panic) and Deimos (Fear), terrible gods who drive the nearby ranks of men into disorder in the slumbering war, with the help of Ares, plunderer of peoples.”
Hesiod, Shield of Heracles 139 ff:
“Among the images engraved on the shield of Heracles (Heracles): In the center was Phobos (Fear) worked in an infallible, indescribable form, looking back with eyes that shone with fire.
On the shield were forged Proioxis (Pursuit) and Palioxis (Flight), and Homados (Tumult), and Phobos (Panic), and Androktasie (Androctasia, Sacrifice). Eris (Strife) also, and Kydoimos (Cydoemus, Uproar) rushed forward, and the mortal Ker (Destiny).
