Thanatos

English
Thanatos (death) and his brother Hypnos (sleep)

Etymology

From Ancient Greek Θάνατος (Thánatos).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈθænəˌtɒs/

Proper noun

Thanatos

  1. (Greek mythology) The god of death (specifically of a peaceful death), and twin brother of Hypnos (god of sleep); the Greek counterpart of Mors.

Noun

Thanatos (uncountable)

  1. (psychoanalysis) the death drive in Freudian psychoanalysis.

Usage notes

Freud did not use the term “Thanatos” – instead he used Todestrieb (“death drive”) – and scholarly works refer to it as “death drive”, but the term “Thanatos” is commonly used in psychoanalysis, in duality with Eros, having been introduced there by Paul Federn.[1]

Antonyms
  • (death drive): Eros (life drive)

Translations

References
  1. Civilization and its discontents, Freud, translator James Strachey, 2005 edition, p. 18
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