Phanes (Greek: Φάνης, from φαίνω - phainō "I bring to light"), or Protogonos Greek: Πρωτογόνος, "First-born"), was the mystic primeval deity of procreation and the generation of new life, who was introduced into Greek mythology by the Orphic tradition; other names for this Classical Greek Orphic concept included Ericapaeus (Ἠρικαπαῖος or Ἠρικεπαῖος "power" and Metis ("thought"). In these myths Phanès is often equated with Eros and Mithras and has been depicted as a deity emerging from a cosmic egg, entwined with a serpent. He had a helmet and had broad, golden wings. Many threads of earlier myths are apparent in the new tradition. Phanes was believed to have been hatched from the World-Egg of Time and Necessity. His older wife (Night/Nyx), called him Protogenus. As she created Night time, he created the day time. He has also created the method of creation by mingling. He was made the ruler of the deities and passed the sceptre to Nyx, his older wife. This new Orphic tradition states that Nyx later gave the sceptre to her son Uranus before it passed to Cronus and then to Zeus, who retained it.
It is also believed that by his centuries old battle with Chaos, the creation of birds took place as the result.
The "Protogonos Theogony" is known through the commentary in the Derveni papyrus and references in Empedocles and Pindar.
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