Himeros

H4I1M3E1R1O1S1

proper noun

The Greek god of uncontrollable desire, often depicted as a winged child attendant to Aphrodite.

Scrabble 12

Meanings

proper noun
  1. Greekhuman sciencesThe Greek god of uncontrollable desire, often depicted as a winged child attendant to Aphrodite.

    While both love gods Eros and Himeros are regularly associated with Aphrodite, and they often appear together or separately in overtly erotic contexts, it is a bit tricky to differentiate between these two figures with precision.

    2010, Monica S. Cyrino, Aphrodite, page 45
    2 more examples

    1999, Janet Lloyd (translator), Claude Calame, Taylor & Francis (Routledge), The Poetics of Eros in Ancient Greece, [1992, I Greci e l'eros], Princeton University Press, pages 31-32, A late-fifth-century hydria represents Himeros as a young boy who is present at the judgment of Paris: while Eros concentrates on winning over the young shepherd, Himeros and Pothos flank Aphrodite, indicating that this is the goddess upon whom his choice will fall. And a famous black-figure plaque dating from as early as dating from as early as the mid-sixth century shows Aphrodite holding in her arms two wingless children named, respectively, Himeros and Pothos.

    The Greeks observed that Himeros often mingled with other goddesses, namely the Graces and the Hours and with Persuasion (Peitho) and Eros, all in the company of Aphrodite. How strange it is that in our times, Himeros often is found in the company of boredom, weariness and emptiness, since to experience desire and yearning is regarded as being deprived! Even though fulfillment is yet to come, Himeros is neither bored nor deprived.

    2010, Betty Mallett Smith, The Greek Dialogues, Xlibris, page 460

Origin

  1. Ancient GreekἽμερος
  2. EnglishHimeros

Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἵμερος (Hímeros), ἵμερος (hímeros, “yearning, desire”).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French Himéros
  • HimérosGreek god attendant to Aphrodite
Italian Imero
  • ImeroGreek god attendant to Aphrodite

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

Himeros. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Himeros

MLA

“Himeros.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Himeros. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Himeros,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Himeros.

Source: Himeros on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.