Hades is often referred to as “The Unseen One,” a fitting title considering his role as the ruler of the invisible realm. However, in ancient Greek culture, this name was not commonly used, similar to how Christians seldom mentioned the word “Hell” during the Middle Ages. Instead, the Greeks often euphemistically referred to Hades as Plouton, meaning “The Wealth-Giver,” due to the association of minerals and precious metals with the underground. It is worth noting that Hades’ Roman counterpart is also named Pluto.
Every so often he carries a scepter or holds the key to his kingdom. At a later stage, he became associated with his weapon of choice, the bident, a two-pronged fork modeled after Poseidon’s trident. As Plouton, he was sometimes shown with a cornucopia, the horn of plenty.
Hades was the son of Cronus and Rhea, the king and queen of the Titans. After being born, Hades was swallowed by his father Cronus to prevent a prophecy that a son would someday overthrow him. Hades was eventually saved by his younger brother Zeus. After the Olympians defeated the Titans, Hades and his brothers drew lots to divide up the world. Zeus drew the sky, Poseidon drew the sea, and Hades drew the Underworld. The Underworld is where dead people go in Greek Mythology. Hades wasn’t very happy about getting to the Underworld at first, but when Zeus explained to him that all the people of the world would eventually be his subjects, Hades decided it was okay.
By far the most important myth is Hades’ abduction of Persephone, Demeter’s daughter. That was one of the few times Hades traveled above ground. The reason, naturally, was love: he fell for Persephone. However, Persephone didn’t want to give in easily, so Hades devised an ingenious ploy. As Persephone was gathering flowers with her maidens at the Nysian plain, he caused an indescribably beautiful flower to suddenly bloom before her. When Persephone reached out to pluck it, the ground under her opened and Hades appeared before her, all dreadful and majestic in his four-horse golden chariot, and took her with him to the Underworld.
Demeter, the goddess of fertility, was so distressed at the absence of her daughter, that she started fasting and wandering. Finally, after nine days, Hecate told her what happened. After the All-Seeing Helios confirmed the event, Demeter left Olympus as an act of protest against the injustice done to her.
With her gone, the earth was as barren and infertile as a desert. One year passed, and the gods started worrying that the famine would wipe out humanity. So Zeus sent all the gods, one by one, to beg Demeter to come back, promising her all kinds of gifts and functions. She wanted none; the only thing she wanted was to see her daughter once again. So, Zeus had no choice but to send Hermes to Hades with the request that he return Persephone to Demeter. He complied, but only after making Persephone eat one pomegranate seed before leaving. This ensured that she would remain bound to his kingdom eternally.
Now, both sides had no choice but to accept Zeus’ compromise: Persephone would spend two-thirds of the year with her mother, but one-third of it with Hades. And this is the part of the year that corresponds with the winter months: they say that Demeter retreats from Olympus to her temple at Eleusis to grieve the absence of Persephone. Every spring Persephone would be reunited with her mother Demeter marking the season of rebirth. It’s possible that Hades and Persephone didn’t have any children. However, some say that Zagreus may have been their son. Macaria is also claimed to have been Hades’ daughter – but no mother is mentioned.
While Hades is often depicted as a ruthless, cold-hearted ruler, his character is more complex and often misunderstood. Contrary to popular belief, Hades was not the embodiment of evil or the judge of the dead; rather, he was a strict but fair ruler, ensuring that the souls who entered his domain were treated according to their deeds in life. Hades is sometimes confused with the Greek god of death, Thanatos, their roles and responsibilities were distinct. Hades was the overseer of the Underworld, while Thanatos was responsible for the act of dying and guiding souls to the afterlife. In essence, Hades was a vital part of the natural cycle of life and death, maintaining order and balance.
Hades played a crucial role in Greek mythology as the ruler of the Underworld. While he was often portrayed as stern and strict, he ensured that souls were judged and treated according to their actions in life. Thanatos, on the other hand, was responsible for the actual process of dying and guiding souls to the afterlife. Both gods had distinct roles, with Hades overseeing the domain of the dead and maintaining the natural balance between life and death.
