Origin Story
Hades is the eldest son of Cronus and Rhea, and the elder brother of Zeus and Poseidon. After the Titanomachy, the three brothers drew lots to divide the world: Zeus received the sky, Poseidon the sea, and Hades the underworld. He thus became the ruler of the subterranean kingdom, governing the souls of the dead and all the mineral wealth beneath the earth. His name in Greek means "the unseen one," as he possesses a helmet of invisibility.
Symbols and Attributes
Hades's classic symbols include:
- Helmet of Invisibility: Crafted by the Cyclopes, it allows him to become unseen
- Bident: A two-pronged staff, similar to Poseidon's trident, symbolizing his power over the underworld
- Cypress Tree: A tree associated with death
- Cerberus: The three-headed hound that guards the entrance to the underworld
Important Myths
Hades's most famous story is the abduction of Persephone. He fell in love with the daughter of the harvest goddess, and with Zeus's tacit approval, he kidnapped her into the underworld. Demeter's grief caused the earth to become barren, and Zeus eventually mediated, allowing Persephone to return to the surface for part of each year. In another myth, the hero Orpheus moved Hades with his music and was allowed to bring his dead wife, Eurydice, back, but failed due to breaking a condition. Hades also helped Heracles complete his twelve labors by lending him his hellhound.
Cultural Influence
The ancient Greeks both revered and feared Hades, rarely calling him by name, often using the euphemism "Plouton" (god of wealth). His underworld was depicted as a place of judgment where the blessed enjoyed rewards and the wicked were punished, influencing the later Christian concept of Hell. His Roman counterpart is Pluto, after whom the dwarf planet Pluto is named.
Modern References
Hades appears frequently in modern culture. Disney's Hercules portrays him as a comical villain. The video game Hades features him as the protagonist, telling the story of his relationship with his son, Zagreus. In psychology, the "Hades complex" describes a subconscious attraction to darkness and death. In astronomy, even after Pluto's reclassification, its name still represents this mysterious underworld.