![]() On some level it’s easy to understand why Hades wasn’t very well liked as a god, or at least why the Ancient Greeks would have wanted to keep him at a distance. Top that off with the fact that most people were too afraid of him to worship him, and it seems like the eldest of the Olympians got a pretty rough deal. He drew the shortest stick, and therefore had to accept the twisted, dark, Underworld as his realm while his youngest brother became king of the gods and erected his kingdom in the sky. Normally, according to Greek law, the eldest brother (which in this case was Hades) would have been granted the biggest and best kingdom but Hades was cheated out of his rightful place and title as king of the gods by the drawing of lots (though it seems like an arbitrary system, it was a customary solution to difficult decision-making issues). After Zeus forced his father, Cronos, to disgorge Zeus’ brothers and sisters (whom he had swallowed in order to circumvent any threats to his power), and after Cronos’ children overthrew his rule as supreme god, Zeus and his two brothers-Poseidon and Hades-drew lots to decide which realms they would rule. ![]() This fresco was found in the small Macedonian royal tomb at Vergina, Macedonia, Greece.All told, this may seem like just another example of Hades drawing the short stick-and in this case that’s not an idiom. Pictured at the top of the article is a scene of Hades abducting Persephone. You can still find paintings and statues of Hades dating from ancient Greece though. If this was the site of the temple, few if any remains survive today. ![]() It's a disputed site known as the Necromanteion of Acheron which is thought to have been dedicated to Necromancy and Hades. One possibility is in the north-west of Greece. Records indicate that the citizens of Elis may have erected temples to him, but nothing survives today. Unlike the other Greek Gods, Hades had very few temples dedicated to him in Greece. Famous Temples in Greece Associated with Hades He is not cast as the bad guy here, but rather as a stern but fair figure who is the father to some of the series' more pivotal characters such as Nico Di Angelo. In a departure from many popular depictions of Hades, he is presented here as being highly dignified and powerful, to the point that Zeus himself is seen in some scenarios to be reluctant to fight him. Hades plays a pivotal role in the series as the eldest of the big three gods - Zeus, Poseidon, and he himself. He is the master of Cerberus, the dreaded three-headed dog that guards the entry to the underworld, as well as being in possession of the Helm of Invisibility, a helmet that enables whoever wears it to be invisible to mortal and immortal eyes. This was before the three brothers Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades took an oath not to sire any more children with humans. In Greek mythology, Hades isn't said to have fathered any children, but in the Percy Jackson book series, he is the father to Nico Di Angelo, Zagreus, Melinoe, Makaria, and Bianca Di Angelo, whose mother is Maria Di Angelo. It's another classic tale of love and abduction in Greek Mythology, which is thought to explain seasons, fertility and crops. ![]() The most famous myth concerning Hades, is perhaps the myth of Hades and Persephone. His halls are described as always being full of guests, and the Greeks attributed all bounty that came from the earth as being gifts from him to the living (minerals, crops, and the like). He has a reputation for being quite generous, which comes as a surprise to many students of Greek mythology. Hades is often referred to as Zeus of the Underworld, The Silent One, and The Hospitable One on account of his even-handed treatment of the souls of the dead as well as his lack of concern for the affairs of the living. Hades kidnapping Persephone - credits: matintheworld/depositphotos Hades in Greek Mythology Perhaps it is or own fear of passing from the mortal realm that makes us ascribe certain negative characteristics to him. Even though it is popularly believed that Hades is a harsh steward of these souls, most mythology portrays him as a stern, disciplined, but ultimately a fair overseer of the underworld. He was the steward of all the souls that passed from the land of the living and into the underworld, where it is his responsibility to act as a warden for them. Check the calendar Hades - Lord of the UnderworldĪs the God and ruler of the underworld, Hades had an important role to play in ancient Greek mythology and storytelling. ![]()
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