Epilogue – KkeomuWiki Hades (1)
Hades (hades):
The god of the underworld, wealth, fairness, and mercy.
1. Overview
Hades is the god of the underworld in Greek mythology. He is also known by another name, Pluto.
He rules the world of the dead, the underworld filled with departed souls. While he is not one of the twelve Olympian gods who sit on golden thrones, he is counted among the Three Great Gods alongside his brothers Zeus and Poseidon.
For the ancient Greeks, Hades and Pluto were considered the same deity, but their areas of focus differed depending on the name used.
When discussing the underworld and fairness, Hades was invoked. When discussing wealth and mercy, Pluto was the preferred name.
However, due to the fear and dread surrounding death and the underworld, ancient Greeks often used the name Pluto in official documents and records instead of Hades.
2. Characteristics
Hades is symbolized by mint, a plant known in Greek as Menthe.
According to legend, Menthe, the goddess of mint, created the plant and dedicated it to Hades, who favored her.
As the god of mercy, Hades recognized the plant’s benefits and usefulness, spreading it throughout the mortal world.
Mint, also known as Pluto’s Grace, was used to mask the smell of corpses and as a medicinal herb.
Hades holds numerous divine domains. Thanks to his possession of the Cornucopia, or Horn of Plenty, he was referred to as the god of wealth.
With the added responsibility of judging souls after death, he also became associated with fairness and mercy.
Despite being the god of the feared underworld, his worship has persisted through time.
The underworld was considered a realm completely severed from the mortal world, and the authority of its king, Hades, was absolute.
Even Zeus, the king of the gods, could not interfere in matters of the underworld and respected Hades, who managed both the underworld and Tartarus.
3. Status / Combat Power
The moment the King of the Underworld fully donned his helmet, he vanished completely, even from the sight of Typhon, who prided himself on being the fastest among the Olympians.
(The Iliad, Pluto’s Translation 18. 267-268)
“You are worthy to stand before the heavens.”
—Uranus (Ancient History, Records of the Gigantomachy, 2024, Pluto’s Translation)
“At this point, our eldest brother might be stronger than Poseidon.”
—Zeus (The Iliad, 35. 562-563)
Hades is regarded as the strongest god of Olympus, second only to Zeus.
For the ancient Greeks, the underworld was as fearsome as the endless depths of the sea or the strike of lightning.
Early epics like Homer’s Iliad describe Zeus as stronger than all the other Olympian gods.
However, this claim excludes the other two members of the Three Great Gods, Poseidon and Hades.
When Poseidon attempted to rebel against Zeus, he suggested involving Hades, implying that the two of them together could overpower Zeus.
Even with just his underworld-related powers, Hades held significant status.
As time passed and he gained the domains of mercy and fairness, his status rose even further.
The perception of Hades as superior to Poseidon became widespread. This is also why Poseidon often retreats during conversations with Hades—
Hades already holds the upper hand due to his associations with fairness and mercy. Even Zeus often found himself at a disadvantage when dealing with him.
In the story of King Perseus, Hades is shown to have the ability to manipulate small fates, similar to Zeus.
However, while he overlooked Zeus’s manipulation of fate to incite the Trojan War, it suggests that Hades cannot alter larger, world-changing destinies.
During the long Gigantomachy, when Cronus descended into the body of a giant near Thebes, a city that worshipped Hades as its main deity,
Hades himself ventured into the mortal world and stopped his father. This demonstrates the ancient belief that even time cannot surpass death and that no one can escape it.
While preparing for the Gigantomachy, Hades sought the cooperation of Nyx, the goddess of night, and briefly confronted Uranus, the primordial god of the sky.
When Hades approached him, Uranus casually flicked a cosmic wind at him, but Hades withstood it directly, even ensuring the Pegasus he rode returned safely to the ground.
Uranus’s remark, “You are worthy to stand before the heavens,” aptly illustrates Hades’s strength.
Additionally, when Poseidon’s daughter Charybdis, a powerful sea deity capable of surviving Zeus’s lightning, attempted to devour humans,
Hades created a black pillar of annihilation between the sea and the sky as a light warning.
Afterward, reports of humans vanishing due to whirlpools ceased, suggesting Charybdis found the experience particularly painful.
Other records of Hades’s strength are abundant.
For instance, he induced cosmic horror in the great hero Heracles with just a glance or led a chariot charge during the Battle of Plesra Plains,
Where no giant could stand in his way. (As one of the Three Great Gods, it is unthinkable for him to be weak.)
3.1. Weapons
Hades’ primary weapons include the Kynee (Cap of Invisibility) gifted by the Cyclopes brothers, the bifurcated spear Bident, and the Styx Sword, a gift from his wife, the goddess Styx.
Kynee: A transparent helmet that makes the wearer invisible, the Kynee was instrumental in Hades’ exploits during the Titanomachy and Gigantomachy. Legends claim that even Cronus or Typhon could not detect Hades when he wore the Kynee.
Bident: This bifurcated spear, forged by the god of smithing Hephaestus, was presented to Hades as a tribute. The Bident possessed the ability to return to Hades’ hand no matter how far it was thrown. Initially, Hades lamented not having a weapon comparable to Poseidon’s trident or Zeus’ thunderbolt, but he was thoroughly satisfied upon receiving the Bident.
Styx Sword: After driving out the Titans and becoming the god of the underworld, Hades received this sword from Styx, who later became one of his wives. Forged with the waters of the River Styx, the sword had a dark, ominous blade radiating a chilling aura. However, when Hades proposed to Styx, he transformed the sword into a ring and presented it to her.
4. Relationship with Other Gods
Hades was married to the goddess Styx, the goddess of the River Lethe (Oblivion), and Persephone, the goddess of spring and seeds. He had only one consort, the nymph Menthe, goddess of mint.
Even Hera, the goddess of marriage, did not criticize Hades for having three wives instead of one, as all three genuinely loved him and willingly accepted the arrangement. This may reflect Hades’ status as an “alpha male” in ancient Greek tradition.
Relationship with the Olympian Gods
Hades’ relationship with the other twelve Olympian gods was somewhat complex. While he was respected as a fair and merciful god, myths often depict him taking action when the gods committed wrongdoings, dragging them to the underworld to work as punishment.
Over half of the Olympian gods were reportedly subjected to this punishment at some point and became notably more subdued afterward.
This reputation contributed to Hades being known as the god of fairness. His status as a compassionate god who looked after mortals caught the attention of Dike, the goddess of justice, who asked Hades to become the god of fairness. (As Dike, tasked with upholding law and justice, found it difficult to confront stronger gods, she sought Hades’ protection.)
Relationship with Persephone
Persephone, the goddess of spring and seeds, is said to have been captivated by Hades when he met her near Mount Etna while patrolling Typhon’s burial site. While some believe she held a grudge for being abducted and fed food from the underworld, The Iliad states that it was widely known that eating underworld food bound one to the underworld.
It’s argued that Persephone deliberately ate the pomegranate seeds because she had fallen for Hades, who saved her from an attack by the Gigantes.
This version is more convincing, as Hades, a god of fairness and compassion, would not kidnap a goddess. Furthermore, his relationship with Persephone’s mother, Demeter, was amicable, lending credibility to this narrative.
Relationship with the Protogenoi
Interestingly, Hades had amicable relations with most of the primordial gods, except Gaia, the earth goddess who opposed Olympus. Nyx, the goddess of night, held Hades in high regard, while Tartarus allowed Hades to imprison criminals within him. Uranus, despite his transformation into a goddess after losing his phallus, recognized and respected Hades for his strength.
Relationship with Underworld Gods
Underworld deities like Thanatos (Death), Charon (Ferryman of the Dead), Moros (Doom), Keres (Death Spirits), and Morpheus (God of Dreams) maintained horizontal and friendly relations with Hades. During events like the Gigantomachy, however, they all followed Hades’ leadership.
Although Hades reportedly treated the elderly gods like Thanatos with respect, Thanatos and others willingly accepted any punishment Hades meted out, reflecting his strong leadership as the king of the underworld. (In truth, no underworld deity could match Hades’ power, so this obedience was expected.)
Friendships with Lesser-Known Deities
Hades was also known to have close relationships with deities often shunned by others, such as Limos (Famine), Eris (Discord), and the Erinyes (Furies).
His ability to form bonds with such outcast gods subtly reinforced his stature and influence.