Geras

Geras
Biographical information
Gender	Male
Alias	God of Old Age Son of Nyx Gary Gary the Goblet Ganker Old Age
Family	Nyx (mother) Erebos (stepfather/maternal uncle) Eris, Hemera, Fates, Furies, Arai, Keres, Nemesis, and Oizys (sisters) Hypnos, Thanatos, Charon and Aither (brothers) Morpheus and Clovis (nephews) Tartarus and Ouranos (maternal uncles) Gaea (maternal aunt)
Affiliation	Nyx
Residence	Tartarus
Status	Immortal
Physical description
Species	God Daimon
Behind the scenes
Appearances	The House of Hades The Chalice of the Gods

“	I am darker still! I dim the eyes and addle the brain. Every mortal fears old age!	”
–Geras, in The House of Hades.

Geras is the Greek god of old age. He is the son of Nyx. His Roman aspect is Senectus.

History

Not much is known about Geras. During Ancient Greek times, he was seen as more of a virtue. He is primarily known for the vases that depict him appearing with Hercules.

Hercules wrestled him to a standstill using brute force. Since beating him wasn't possible, it was the only time Geras had to ever call the match a draw. Hercules was also the only hero that Geras had made an offer to.

The Heroes of Olympus

The House of Hades

Geras is among the children of Nyx who confront Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase near the Mansion of Night. He sees himself as the darkest of Nyx's children, seeing as every mortal fears old age. As he says this many more of Nyx's children start arguing that they are the darkest. This causes a frenzy and gives Percy and Annabeth time to escape and run off into Nyx's mansion of darkness. After Nyx and her children realized Percy and Annabeth escaped he, his siblings and their mother chase Percy and Annabeth as they delve into Night, on their way to the Doors of Death in the heart of Tartarus.

The Senior Year Adventures

The Chalice of the Gods

Geras, angry that the mortal Ganymede was granted immortality, steals Ganymede's Chalice to punish the god for becoming immortal. He is discovered to be the thief by Percy Jackson in Washington Square Park. Geras praises the Son of Poseidon for rejecting immorality but becomes enraged when the demigod asks for it back. He agrees to return the chalice if Percy can beat him in a wrestling match but, but he will turn the Son of Poseidon into dust if he loses. Before Percy agrees, Geras says the match will be decided if Percy can bend one of the god’s knees to the ground of if the god slams Percy's face to the ground. Percy requests that his companions be allowed to leave unharmed regardless of the outcome and that they be broken out of their trance. Geras releases his companions and they explain the terms and conditions of the match to them. Annabeth pulls Percy aside and asks if he is sure. Percy considers walking away for a moment but decides against it. They walk back and, after Geras rejects Grover offer to trade the chalice for donuts, the god jumps on Percy.

For most of the match, Geras has the upper hand and threatens to disintegrate Annabeth and Grover if they intervene. When Percy chooses to embrace old age, the Son of Poseidon hugs the god. Geras and Grover are stunned, but Annabeth is pleased with Percy’s action. Geras, who can not remember the last time he was hugged, is thankful that the Son of Poseidon has chosen to embrace old age and returns the chalice before disappearing. Not long after, a hula hoop, the hoop being a symbol of Ganymede, falls from the sky to tell them Ganymede needs the chalice immediately as Zeus is hosting a brunch for his mother.

Appearance

Geras is described as a withered old man in The House of Hades.

In The Chalice of the Gods, Geras is described as a short old man with wrinkled skin and lacking teeth. He wears only a loincloth.

Personality

Geras despises those who are given immortality, as he feels it goes against the natural order. However, Geras takes admiration upon those who embrace old age.

Abilities

• He presumably has the standard abilities of a god.
• Senescence: As the God of old age, he has the power to accelerate a person's age.
• Umbrakinesis: As he was one of Nyx's children who claimed to cause all darkness.
• Chronokinesis: Similar to Kronos, Geras can "stretch" time, effectively slowing it down around Percy Jackson during their first meeting.

Trivia

• "Gerascophobia", the fear of old age, comes from Geras.
• His Norse equivalent is Elli.
• The original print of The House of Hades describes Geras as female. This was corrected for further editions.