Have you ever had that one friend (or maybe a sibling) who always got more attention than you? No matter what you did, they were the star of the show while you just existed in their shadow? Well, welcome to the life of Hades, the Greek god of the underworld. While Zeus was busy throwing lightning bolts and Poseidon was making waves (literally), Hades was stuck managing the dead. And let’s be honest, that’s not exactly the most glamorous job in Greek mythology.
So, did Hades have enemies? Oh, absolutely. And not just because of his moody, brooding aesthetic. Let’s dive into the myths and see who had beef with the King of the Underworld.
Zeus & Poseidon – The Sibling Rivalry
Ah, siblings. You love them, but sometimes you’d rather not deal with them. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades were the original power trio, but their relationship wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. After they overthrew their dear old dad, Cronus, they divided the world among themselves. Zeus got the sky, Poseidon got the sea, and Hades? Well, he got the underworld—aka the least desirable option.
Zeus, being the power-hungry ruler he was, often meddled in Hades’ affairs. One of the biggest tensions between them? Persephone. Hades fell in love with her and—depending on which version of the myth you believe—either abducted or persuaded her to become his queen. Zeus, as her father, had a lot to say about that. This led to an awkward family dispute that resulted in the whole seasons-changing deal.
And Poseidon? Well, he didn’t directly battle Hades, but let’s just say they weren’t exactly grabbing drinks together on Mount Olympus. The gods rarely visited Hades’ realm, and he wasn’t exactly welcome at their parties either.
Heracles – The Guy Who Broke In
Imagine you’re chilling at home, minding your own business, and suddenly some muscle-bound warrior busts in, wrecks your stuff, and demands to take your pet. That’s basically what Heracles (Hercules in Roman mythology) did to Hades.
As part of his famous Twelve Labors, Heracles was tasked with capturing Cerberus, Hades’ massive three-headed guard dog. To be fair, he didn’t actually kill the pup (which is rare for Greek heroes—those guys loved a good monster slaying). But still, he stormed into the underworld, strong-armed Hades into letting him borrow Cerberus, and then waltzed back out. Rude, right?
Theseus & Pirithous – The Worst Houseguests Ever
Now, if Heracles was just an unwelcome intruder, Theseus and his buddy Pirithous were the guys who invite themselves over and refuse to leave.
Theseus, famous for slaying the Minotaur, and Pirithous, a king with way too much confidence, decided they both deserved divine wives. Theseus aimed for Helen of Troy (before she was of Troy), while Pirithous thought, “You know who’d make a great wife? Persephone!” Yep, the actual Queen of the Underworld.
So, they strutted down to Hades’ realm, thinking they could just take her. Hades, being no fool, played along at first, offering them hospitality and inviting them to sit down. The moment they did, they were magically stuck to their chairs, unable to move.
Theseus eventually got lucky—Heracles freed him during another adventure—but Pirithous? He was left to sit there forever. Moral of the story: don’t try to steal someone’s wife, especially if her husband rules over the dead.
Orpheus – The Guy Who Couldn’t Follow Instructions
If there’s one myth that perfectly captures heartbreak, it’s Orpheus and Eurydice. Orpheus, the rock star of ancient Greece, lost his wife, Eurydice, and was so grief-stricken that he traveled to the underworld to get her back. He played such beautiful music that Hades and Persephone actually agreed to let Eurydice leave—on one condition: Orpheus couldn’t look back at her until they were both out.
But guess what? He looked. And just like that, she was gone forever. Was Hades the villain here? Not really. He actually bent the rules for Orpheus, which was rare. But still, from Orpheus’ perspective, Hades was the ultimate dream-crusher.
Is Hades Actually a Villain?
Here’s the thing—Hades gets a bad rap. Thanks to pop culture (looking at you, Disney’s Hercules), he’s often portrayed as the evil god, but in most myths, he’s actually one of the more fair and reasonable deities. He didn’t go around picking fights like Ares, he wasn’t as scheming as Zeus, and he definitely wasn’t as petty as Hera.
But did he have enemies? Absolutely. Some were family, some were heroes, and some were just plain reckless.
What Do You Think?
Who’s your favorite Greek mythology character? Do you think Hades was misunderstood, or do you side with the heroes who challenged him? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your thoughts!
And if you enjoyed this dive into Greek myths, stick around! There’s plenty more drama in Olympus to uncover. If you would like to read more about Hades, then i have other blogs on him as well.