Ancient Greek personification of death.
He was the son of Nyx, goddess of night, and brother to Hypnos, god of sleep. He appeared to humans to carry them off to the underworld when the time allotted to them by the Fates had expired. Thanatos was once defeated by Heracles , who wrestled him to save the life of Alcestis , and he was tricked by Sisyphus , who wanted a second chance at life.