In Greek mythology, Geras (Γῆρας / Gễras) was the personification of old age and was considered the companion and inevitable prelude to Thanatos, death. Logically, his counterpart was Hebe, the goddess of youth. In Roman mythology, his equivalent was Senectus.
Representation
He was depicted as a shriveled and wrinkled old man, and later as a sorrowful woman leaning on a staff and holding a cup, gazing into a well where there is an hourglass, an allegory of the little time left in life. Some vases from the 5th century BCE depict a scene of Geras with Heracles. As the intended story is lost, it has been interpreted as an allegory of the hero’s victory over old age (Heracles died young) in vases where he is clearly portrayed as superior to Geras, even grabbing him by the hair; or as the hero’s attempt to understand what it meant to grow old (in a vase where both appear conversing on equal terms).
Characteristics
Like many of the dark gods, he was the child of Night, alone or with Erebus. Ancient authors emphasized his relentlessness, as only the gods were free from his destructive power, and it was said that only Aphrodite knew how to postpone his effects. An example of this cruelty is the story of Titonus, the lover whom Eos made immortal but forgot to make eternally young. Over time, Titonus became a decrepit mass of bones and skin begging for death. Abandoned by his beloved, he eventually transformed into a cicada. Geras’ power over mortals influenced their romantic relationships with gods, such as Aphrodite, who did not allow herself to love Aeneas for more than one night, or Marpessa, who rejected Apollo so that he would not abandon her when she grew old.
The gods respected Geras because they wanted to receive his honors and valued the experience that old age brought, hence allowing him to dwell on Mount Olympus. He was also seen as the one who put an end to tyrannies and unjust deeds that Geras ensured were not eternal. However, the logical effects of weakness and decline caused by old age were feared and abhorred by all.
Some authors claim that when Zeus punished men by sending them Pandora, the first woman, he wanted to extend his curse and sent Geras with her, so that men, fearing growing old without the help of their children, would not avoid contact with women and escape the punishment.
Geras had a temple in Athens and an altar in Cadiz, where the profound religiosity of its inhabitants led them to worship even death.
Myth
Hesiod makes him the son of Nyx (Night), born without a father; for Hyginus, his father is rather Erebus. According to Aristophanes, he is one of the residents of Olympus. He is one of the evils contained in Pandora’s box.
He is linked to the deeds of Heracles by a black-figure vase and some red-figure vases, all dating from the first half of the 5th century. Two of the red-figure vases specifically mention Geras, confirming the identification. The iconography of Old Age varies depending on the vases: on one of the two inscribed red-figure pelikai (Louvre G234, see image), Geras is depicted as a frail old man, with a long and flaccid phallus, leaning on a cane.
Heracles, much larger than him, seizes him by the hair, presumably with the intention of then striking him with a club. On another vase (London E90), Geras is depicted the same size as the hero, fleeing. The scene is identical to a red-figure skyphos (Oxford 1943.79). On a black-figure lekythos, Heracles pushes his frail and naked opponent to the ground. On a pelikè (Berlin: Ch VI 3317), Heracles grabs a small, emaciated, naked opponent by the throat. Finally, a vase from the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia (VG 48238) shows Heracles leaning on his club and seemingly conversing with Geras, who is leaning on his cane.
The interpretation of this iconography is challenging because no known text mentions a meeting between Heracles and Geras. The scene could signify that Heracles, who is dying young, has overcome old age. However, the death of Heracles is not truly heroic. It could also depict Heracles wanting Geras to describe old age. Heracles is the Greek name for Hercules.