thanatos

Birthday: June 13 The Greek god Thanatos, the deity of death, is one of the antagonist deities featured in the universe of the manga Saint Seiya, authored by Masami Kurumada, which was later adapted into an anime. Based on the mythological figure of the same name, Thanatos represents mortality and death and is the twin brother of Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep. In Kurumada's narrative, while he serves under Hades, the ruler of the Underworld, Thanatos retains full divine attributes and stands as a sworn enemy of Athena, the protector goddess of Earth. Kurumada introduced Thanatos in the latter parts of the Hades arc, specifically in volume 27. He is depicted as cruel, merciless, and disdainful towards humans, often whimsically inflicting death without hesitation. After being defeated in the final battle against Hades in the 18th century, Thanatos and his brother were sealed away by Athena for 243 years inside a box marked with her seal. They were only freed when Pandora, then a curious three-year-old, opened the box, heralding the imminent resurrection of Hades and her servitude to them. Physically, Thanatos closely resembles his brother Hypnos, differing only in his silver eyes and hair compared to Hypnos' golden features. A star-like symbol adorns his forehead. Unlike Hypnos, who is calm and calculating, Thanatos can lose his temper and act impulsively when enraged. Thanatos resides in Elysion, spending most of his time there with Nymphs and his brother, awaiting orders from their lord Hades. He fiercely opposed Athena's Saints when they attempted to rescue their goddess and prevent Hades' Greatest Eclipse, which aimed to eradicate humanity. Thanatos' role is to bring death to all living beings either at the end of their natural lifespan or as divine punishment. Before his formal introduction in the anime adaptation, he appeared in the opening scenes of the Inferno stage of the Hades arc episodes (starting from episode 128), standing next to Hypnos and overshadowed by Hades. His full appearance in the anime came in 2008, 16 years after his manga debut, in the final episodes that adapt volumes 27 and 28. From episode 142 onwards, his silhouette in the anime opening fully revealed his features.