Hades is one of the more mysterious deities in Greek mythology. He is the ruler of the underworld, the husband of Persephone, and a god whom people greatly feared, despite the fact that he rarely appeared on earth.
Hades is one of Zeus’s most famous brothers. Alongside him and Poseidon, he is one of the most powerful Olympian gods.
Who was Hades?
In Greek mythology, Hades was the god of the underworld and the realm of the dead. In Roman mythology, his equivalent was Pluto. Over time, the word “Hades” also came to refer to the place where the dead resided.
Hades was the son of Cronus, one of the children whom Cronus swallowed to protect himself from losing his power; he was saved—just like his other siblings—by Zeus.
Hades was the god of the underworld and the dead; he was also called Agesandros, which meant “leader of people.”
His attributes included a scepter and keys. He was also often depicted with a cornucopia.
Hades – a symbol of death?
Hades was primarily a stern god who inspired fear, but like his brother Zeus, he was considered exceptionally just. However, no temples were dedicated to Hades. The Greeks believed that they would ultimately end up in his kingdom anyway. Hades was not so much a symbol of death as he was of the inevitability of human fate. He rarely appeared on earth, but when he did, he wore a cap made of dog skin that made him invisible. His constant companion was the three-headed dog, Cerberus.
Who was Hades’ wife?
The most famous myth associated with Hades is, of course, the one about the abduction of Kore, the daughter of Demeter, the goddess of fertility, harvest, and the seasons. Kore became Hades’ wife and took the name Persephone. To ease the suffering of her mother, who had to give up her daughter to the god of the underworld, Persephone was allowed to spend half of the year with Hades and the other half with Demeter. This myth explained the changing of the seasons in Greek beliefs.
Hades also has a brother named Zeus. If you are looking to learn more about Zeus, then I have blogs based on him.