Hades— Greek God"King of the Underworld"

The Unseen One

Hades is the eldest son of Kronos and Rhea, yet the last to be disgorged from his father's stomach. After the Olympians defeated the Titans, the three brothers—Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades—cast lots for dominion over the cosmos. Hades drew the underworld and became its eternal king, ruling over all the dead with his queen Persephone.

The Kingdom Below

The realm of Hades (which shares his name) lies beneath the earth, accessed through various caves and fissures. The dead must cross the River Styx, paying the ferryman Charon with a coin placed under their tongue at burial. The three-headed dog Cerberus guards the gates, allowing the dead to enter but none to leave. The underworld contains different regions: the Asphodel Meadows for ordinary souls, Elysium for the heroic and virtuous, and Tartarus for the wicked and the Titans.

The Helm of Darkness

During the Titanomachy, the Cyclopes forged three great weapons: Zeus's thunderbolts, Poseidon's trident, and for Hades, the Helm of Darkness (kunee). This helmet renders the wearer completely invisible—even to other gods. Hades used it to approach Kronos unseen during the final battle. He later lent it to Perseus for his quest to slay Medusa, and Athena used it during the Trojan War.

The Abduction of Persephone

Hades rarely left his domain, but he fell deeply in love with Persephone, daughter of Demeter. With Zeus's permission, Hades emerged from the earth and abducted her while she was gathering flowers. Demeter's grief caused all vegetation to wither, and Zeus was forced to negotiate. Because Persephone had eaten pomegranate seeds in the underworld, she was bound to return there for part of each year—creating the seasons as Demeter mourns her absence.

God of Wealth

Hades was also called Plouton ("the wealthy one") because all precious metals and gems come from beneath the earth—his domain. This aspect was particularly emphasized in Roman religion, where he was primarily worshipped as Pluto, god of wealth. Farmers prayed to him, recognizing that seeds must descend into the earth to bring forth abundance.

A Just but Feared God

Unlike his often-capricious brothers, Hades is portrayed as stern but fair, maintaining strict order in his realm. The Greeks feared to speak his name, using euphemisms like "the Rich One" or "the Host of Many." Few temples were dedicated to him, and his cult focused on avoiding his attention rather than seeking his favor. Yet he was not evil—simply implacable, as death itself is implacable.