Epiales
In Greek mythology, Epiales was the spirit and personification of nightmares. Alternate spellings of the name were Epialos, Epioles, Epialtes or Ephialtes.
Family
Epiales was probably numbered amongst the Oneiroi and thus one of the sons of the goddess Nyx.Mythology
Epiales was also known as Melas Oneiros."The words epialos, epiales and epioles denote the feverish chill the daimon who assaults sleepers. Homer and most writers have epioles with the e; the form in -os means something different, namely the feverish chill... Alkaios called it epialos. Apollonios says that Epialtes itself is called Epiales and by a change of a to o Epioles."
" Like a spider, he is carrying me seaward step by step--a nightmare, a black nightmare ! Oh! Oh! Mother Earth, mother Earth, avert his fearful cries! O father Zeus, son of Ge !"