[PW] Re: what is the origin of "Vesper's curse"

[swguardian-stumpers at yahoo.com]

I put forth the following theory as a possible answer so that someone out there might have a clue to finding a sourced answer. 
   
  Etymology: 1390, "the evening star," 
   
  In the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches liturgies of the canonical hours, vespers is the evening prayer. 
  
Another name for "vespers curse" is the bane of Hypnos, named after Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep. 
   
  In my opinion, "vespers curse" was named thus because it is an ailment of the evening/night and the vespers mentioned is simply a reference to the sixth canonical hour, vespers. 
  
"Steele Sue (RW6) PAHNT" <Sue.Steele at pat.nhs.uk> wrote:
  "Vesper's curse" is a medical condition which causes back pain and keeps
patients awake at night. A doctor at my hospital is trying to find out
why is is so named - who was Vesper and what was the curse?

So far I have found out that Vesper was the Roman God of the evening,
linked with the evening star (also known as Hesperos in Greek
mythology). It appears that Vesper may have cursed Hypnos, the god of
sleep, but we are unclear as to what the curse was, and why he was
cursed.

If anyone is able to help, I would be very grateful.

Sue Steele
Education Centre Library
Fairfield General Hospital
Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Bury, BL9 7TD
Tel: 0161 778 2725

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