🏛️ Hades

Attributes & Domains

Mythology & Stories

Hades rules the realm of the dead with stern but fair justice. Unlike his brothers Zeus and Poseidon who actively involve themselves in mortal affairs, Hades remains in his dark kingdom, rarely leaving except on essential business.

Key Myths:

• The Division of the Cosmos: After defeating the Titans, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades drew lots to divide the cosmos. Zeus received the sky, Poseidon the sea, and Hades the underworld. The earth and Olympus were shared by all.
• The Abduction of Persephone: Hades fell in love with Persephone, daughter of Demeter. With Zeus's permission but without Demeter's knowledge, he abducted her while she picked flowers. Demeter's grief caused eternal winter until Persephone was returned. However, having eaten pomegranate seeds in the underworld, Persephone must spend part of each year with Hades, creating the seasons.
• Orpheus and Eurydice: When the musician Orpheus descended to the underworld to retrieve his dead wife Eurydice, his music moved even Hades. The god agreed to release her on one condition: Orpheus must not look back until they reached the surface. Tragically, Orpheus looked back too soon, losing Eurydice forever.
• Heracles' Twelfth Labor: Heracles was tasked with capturing Cerberus, the three-headed guard dog of the underworld. Hades agreed to allow it, provided Heracles could subdue the beast without weapons. Heracles succeeded and later returned Cerberus to the underworld.

Relationships

Family

• Parents: Kronos (Titan of Time) and Rhea (Titaness, Mother of Gods)
• Consort: Persephone (Queen of the Underworld, daughter of Demeter and Zeus)
• Siblings: Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter, Hestia
• Children: Few or none in most traditions (the Erinyes sometimes attributed to him)

Allies & Companions

• Persephone: Queen of the Underworld, co-ruler
• Thanatos: God of death, psychopomp
• Charon: Ferryman of the dead across the River Styx
• Cerberus: Three-headed guardian dog
• The Judges: Minos, Rhadamanthys, and Aeacus who judge the dead

Worship & Rituals

Sacred Sites

Hades had few temples as Greeks feared to invoke his name. Most worship occurred at necropolises (cities of the dead) or at sites associated with entrances to the underworld, such as caves and deep chasms. The oracle at Epirus consulted the dead through rituals to Hades.

Offerings

Black animals (sheep, cattle) were sacrificed with their blood poured into the earth. Unlike offerings to Olympian gods, sacrifices to Hades were completely burned or buried rather than shared in feasts. Libations of water, wine, milk, and honey were poured for the dead. Worshippers would avert their faces during Hades' rituals.

Prayers & Invocations

Greeks rarely spoke Hades' name, using epithets like "Pluto" (The Wealthy One) to avoid attracting his attention. Prayers typically sought to keep him at bay or to ensure safe passage for the deceased. The dead themselves were invoked through Hades in necromantic rituals.