“Hypnotism” comes from Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep.
Here’s the lineage:
In the mid-1800s, Scottish surgeon James Braid coined the term “neuro-hypnotism” (from the Greek Hypnos, meaning sleep) to describe the peculiar trance-like state he was observing in patients.
Later he shortened it to “hypnotism.”
Braid originally thought this state was a form of artificial sleep, which is why he borrowed from the name of the sleep god.
However, he later realized hypnosis is not actually sleep but a special state of focused attention and suggestibility.
So the word “hypnotism” has its root in Hypnos, but the practice itself is closer to a waking state than to real sleep.
Here’s the connection between Hypnos in mythology and hypnotism:
- Hypnos in Greek Mythology
Hypnos = god of sleep.
Son of Nyx (Night), twin brother of Thanatos (Death).
Lived in a dark cave where the sun never shone, surrounded by poppies (a symbol of sleep/dreams).
His touch or words could calm gods and mortals alike, sending them into deep rest.
He was gentle, unlike his brother Thanatos - his power was about relaxation, release, and altered states, not finality.
- Why Braid Chose “Hypnotism”
When James Braid saw patients in trance states, their relaxed appearance, closed eyes, and dream-like quality reminded him of sleep → so he linked it to Hypnos.
The metaphor fit well: just as Hypnos could lull even Zeus to sleep, the hypnotist seemed to have power to shift consciousness and bypass resistance.
- Symbolic Parallels
Entrance to another state → Hypnos guided mortals into dreams, hypnosis guides the mind into trance.
Suggestibility → In myths, Hypnos influences behavior by softening consciousness; in hypnosis, suggestions bypass ordinary awareness.
Between waking and death → Hypnos stands between alert life and Thanatos (death), just as hypnosis stands between wakefulness and unconscious sleep.
- Later Misunderstanding
Because of the name, many thought hypnosis was literally sleep (even today people say “you look asleep in hypnosis”).
But modern science shows hypnosis is a focused waking state, not true sleep - though it shares the same imagery of rest, surrender, and altered awareness that Hypnos embodied.
So: Hypnotism inherits both the imagery and the mystery of Hypnos - a gentle power to lead the mind across the threshold of ordinary awareness.
Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 