Erebus

American  

[er-uh-buhs] / ˈɛr ə bəs /

noun

1. Classical Mythology. the darkness under the earth, imagined either as the abode of sinners after death or of all the dead.

2. Mount, a volcano in Antarctica, on Ross Island. 13,202 feet (4,024 meters).

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Erebus ¹ British  

/ ˈɛrɪbəs /

noun

1. the god of darkness, son of Chaos and brother of Night

2. the darkness below the earth, thought to be the abode of the dead or the region they pass through on their way to Hades

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Erebus ² British  

/ ˈɛrɪbəs /

noun

1. a volcano in Antarctica, on Ross Island: discovered by Sir James Ross in 1841 and named after his ship. Height: 3794 m (12 448 ft)

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Etymology

Origin of Erebus

< Latin < Greek Érebos; cognate with Armenian erek evening, Sanskrit rájas darkness, Gothic riquis darkness

Example Sentences

HMS Erebus, captained by Sir John Franklin, set sail in 1845.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

This has enabled them to identify three more crew members from Erebus, including Able Seaman William Orren, cabin boy David Young and a steward named John Bridgens.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

Protected from the wind, the seismometers will transmit their data in real time and operate through the darkness of the Antarctic winter, allowing Erebus to be monitored continuously for hazards.

From Science Magazine • Dec. 2, 2024

Shero’s team, for example, requires a helicopter or snowmobiles for a daily commute from McMurdo over the frozen Ross Sea to the foot of snow-covered Mount Erebus, an active volcano.

From Science Magazine • Sep. 13, 2023

Tartarus and Erebus are sometimes two divisions of the underworld, Tartarus the deeper of the two, the prison of the Sons of Earth; Erebus where the dead pass as soon as they die.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton