One of the most famous myths involving Hades is the abduction of Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture. This cap helped the gods in their battle against the Titans. He also has a helmet or cap, made by the Cyclopes, that makes the wearer invisible. Hades is often depicted with his three-headed dog Cerberus, who guards the entrance to the underworld to prevent the dead from leaving. His main concern was maintaining order in his realm and ensuring none of his subjects ever left. Instead, he was mostly seen as stern, fair, and a somewhat distant god. Hades' role was to judge these souls and assign them their place in the underworld.ĭespite his grim role, Hades was not viewed as an evil figure in Greek mythology. This is where the souls of the dead reside after death. Zeus took the sky, Poseidon took the seas, and Hades was left with the underworld. When the three brothers overthrew their father Cronus, they divided the world among themselves. He is one of the twelve Olympian gods and is the god of the underworld, which is also often referred to as 'Hades.' Hades is the son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, and the brother of Zeus and Poseidon. Cocytus River is located in the mountains of Arcadia and Acheron is located in Thesprotia and forms Lake Acherousia just before reaching the Ionian Sea.Hades is a figure from ancient Greek mythology. These rivers are on the borders of two worlds and are surrounded by fog. The souls descend to Hades from the terrible rivers Acheron and Cocytus and the lakes Acherousia and Styx. Odysseus also descended to the Underworld, as advised by Hermes, just before leaving the island of Circe, and conversed with the souls of the dead. The same result also had the descent of Theseus and Peirithos, who intended to steal Persephone, Hades' companion and Queen of the Underworld. But Orpheus could not endure this ordeal and so his beloved returned to the World of the Dead. Of the most famous is that of Orpheus, who wanted to bring his beloved Eurydice to life, accepting the condition put by Hades to not turn to see her on the way back. Hades (Pluto) Greek God - Art Picture by Stregatto10Īccording to mythology, several heroes have made such descents to the Underworld, but not always successfully. There is vegetation in this dark country, but plants do not bloom or fructify. It was a fairly large area beneath the earth, beyond the borders of the visible world and even beyond the Ocean river. Hades always remained locked in his underground world, which was covered by still clouds and eternal fog. Kynee grants invisibility, not only to him, but also to any other god that wears it, like Athena, who thanks to this was able to help her protégé Diomedes escaping the gaze of Ares in the famous Homeric battle.

The helmet (Kynee) is the main symbol of Hades' power, which signalled the deep night in which the God reigns. Therefore, Hades reigns in the dark world of the dead, while on the contrary, Zeus is the ruler of the upper world of the living. Zeus was lucky to be the ruler of the sky, Poseidon the sea, and Hades the Underworld.

The end of the war found the three brothers as winners who decided to divide the world. Hades (Pluto) Greek God - Art Picture by TaekwondoNJ They gave to Zeus the thunderbolt, to Poseidon the trident, and to Hades the kynee (kynee means dog in Greek language), which was a helmet (or cap according to others) that made him invisible and was the symbol of the deep night. The Cyclops supplied the three siblings with irresistible and fierce weapons. Cronus (Roman equivalent is Saturn) had the Titans as his allies, while Zeus had the Cyclops. When Zeus, being helped by his mother, managed to cunningly outwit Cronus and resuscitate his two brothers, who had been swallowed by their father. Hades (Roman equivalent is Pluto) was one of the three sons of Cronus and Rhea, along with Zeus and Poseidon.

Since Homer, Hades prevailed as the biggest form of the Underworld, king and ruler of the silent world of the dead. There are many traditions that prevailed in ancient Greek cities regarding the Underworld and its gods and demons. Pluto, the god-king of the Underworld, known primarily as Hades (Aidis in Greek language means invisible) was often enlisted as one of the twelve gods of Olympus. Hades (Pluto) Greek God - Art Picture by GenzoMan

Hades symbol scepter