This is one of two overviews, one concerned with SLEEP and SOMNolence, and the other concerned with DREAMS and VISIONS.

Classic mythology offers an overture to ideas that point out that SLEEP can be reversible. However, mortals who expire for the last time SLIP into a permanent SLEEP. These ideas are represented by the legendary TWINS HYPNOS and THANTATOS. It was postulated that to ease the fear of death, HYPNOS HYPNOTIZED or "put to sleep" those who were about to meet with THANATOS, the embodiment of death. Regarding dreams and visions, this role was given to MORPHEUS.

The twins Hypnos and Thanatos were identical.

Another prelude of interest concerns ALCOHOL, a drug that induces somnolence, sleep, coma and death. However, alcohol is a rather poor and dangerous HYPNOTIC, because the amounts that induce sleep, are not far from those that result in DEADly COMA. In addition, the unborn exposed to alcohol may also perish or become permanently damaged because alcohol is, in medical parlance, a potent TERATOGEN and TERATOTHANATIC agent or in simpler terms, a deadly malformation inducing agent.

Moderate alcoholic libations liberate. Excessive libations liberate irreversibly.

To FALL aSLEEP is like to fall or SLIP away from consciousness, often into a world of DREAMS which Saints and other special people may call VISIONS. In Ukrainian, SPAD and SPATY refer to fall and sleep. In Sanskrit and ancient Saxon, sleep is DRAYATY a term that points to DREAM.

Happy pets fall asleep and dream easily.

SOMNolent people like to fall asleep or become DORMant in quiet DORMitories. Those who dream while ambulating are called SOMNamblutists after SOMNUS, the Roman God of sleep. A famous SOMNABULIST was Lady McBeth. It is not certain but also worth noting that DREAM in Ukrainian is SON, which may also have roots in SOMNUS.

Somnambulism implies ambulatory sleep.

TORPid is another way to say SLEEPy or DORMANT. The modern TORPedo weapon is derived from TORPor, a Latin word meaning to slow down or to impede or cause TORPOR. Notably, TORPid persons often seem to be NUMB, DUMB, CLUMSY, DULL as well as INEPT and SLOW. TORPor is also a characteristic of those who are starving, ailing, mentally abnormal or otherwise impeded. TORPor also relates to pain, suffering and exhaustion, as underscored by the Ukrainian words TERPit, TERPity and TERPinia which signify numb or inert, or to suffer with PATIENCE which points to PATIENT.

NARCOSIS refers to sleep induced by NARCOTICS from NARCOS, Greek for "deadening". While in small doses, narcotics may be SOPORific or inducers of SOMNolence, as denoted by the word itself, in greater doses, NARCOTICS are DEADening and DEADly. NARCOLEPSY describes those who are "seized" or suffer a "seizure" while asleep. The popular term "sleeping sickness" applies to narcolepsy as well as a series of viral infections of the brain called  encephalitis. "Encephal"itis refers to a "cerebr"itis or inflammation of the brain.

Diana or Artemis is also known as NIX, one of many of her names listed in the left column. The negative implications in NIGHT and NIX are also found in NICH, NICHoho and NICHT, which in Ukrainian and German stand for night, nothing and not. Regarding DREAMS, ideas of "NIGHT" or "NIX" have negative overtones and include concerns about bad NOCTURNAL DREAMS and point to MAR, MARA, NIGHTMARE and MARATHON. Notably in current Hindi, MARA means dying or hurting.

In classic mythology, DIANA or ARTEMIS is the Goddess of Night. Her twin brother Apollo is the God of light and day. Artemis is one of three Olympic Goddesses that vowed to remain "parthenos" or spouseless, a term that theologians prefer to translate as "virgin". In fact, "parthenia" in Greek means concubine or a "non spouse".

Goddesses could not control their feelings.
Endymion was "put to sleep" and did not age.

As soon as born, Diana had to witness her mother's intense suffering as she delivered her twin brother APOLLO. Diana developed PARTHENOPHOBIA, an abnormal or pathologic fear of childbirth and vowed to remain single. However, not even Goddesses can control their heart and sentiments, Diana fell in love with the mortal ENDYMION. Determined to keep her vow as well as to sleep with Endymion, Diana "put Endymion to sleep". Captivated by his perfect MORPHOLOGY Diana insured that it would remain youthful. Perhaps Diana kept Endymion dormant with the aid of MORPHINE. On the other hand, MORTALS who use MORPHINE loose their youthfulness rather quickly perhaps because MORPHEUS relies on MARA to deGENErate their dreams into nightMAREs.

Regarding alcohol, two amply illustrated overviews explore the subjects of DRINKING, DRUNKS, ALCOHOL and LIBATIONS and how such may induce or INSPIRE some people to EXPIRE.

Those interested in APOPLEXY may find of interest the illustrated review dedicated to the term "apo" as in Apollo, Apology, Aponeurosis, Apoptosis, Apostol an the like.