According to Hesiod, vast and unorganized space, abyss from which all things originated, shapeless mass containing the seeds of everything which existed before Order.
From Chaos were born Erebus (Darkness, Shades) and Nyx (Night), who united and gave birth to Hemera (Day) and Aether (Air).
According to Orphics, first there was Time, from which came Chaos and his brother Aether. Chaos symbolized the infinite, while Aether symbolized the finite. Chaos was surrounded by Night, which formed the enveloping cover under which, by the creative action of Aether, cosmic matter was slowly organized (see Nyx).