Hades/Pluto
Hades, in Greek mythology is the god of the Underworld and the ruler of the dead. He is also known as Pluto, the god of wealth. He is the brother of Zeus and Poseidon, and therefore considered the first generation of Olympian gods. However, he was not considered an Olympian god. He was considered a Chthonian (from the Greek word chthon, meaning earth). The Chthonian gods inhabited the opposite realm from the Olympians (Zeus, Hera, Aphrodite, etc) and were considered to be darker and gloomier characters. According to myth, the three sons of Kronos and Rhea - Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades - each drew lots to determine which part of the world they would rule. Zeus and Poseidon received the sky and the seas respectively, leaving Hades, who had the worst draw, with the Underworld. Hades was considered to be a greedy and unpitying god, which made him the most feared among man and the gods.He is the King of the dead but, death itself is another god, Thanatos. Hades ruled to realm of the dead alone. That is, until he became enamored with the goddess Persephone, the daughter of Demeter. Hades abducted Persephone from the u
The plants sacred to him were the cypress and narcissus; black animals were sacrificed to him, not white, like those offered to the other gods. He also carried the key of the world below. He was feared by gods and men, who, afraid to utter his name both in daily life and on solemn occasions, made use of epithets: Polydectes (the receiver of many), Clymenus (the Illustrious), Eubulus (the giver of good counsel). At Demeter's arguments, Hades made a concession that since Persephone ate two pomegranate seeds; she would spend two seasons each in the upper and lower world. In art, he was represented like his brothers Zeus and Poseidon; his features are gloomy, and his hair falls over his forehead. Not foreseeing the consequence, she swallowed it, binding her to the Underworld for all eternity. In Romanesque folk-lore Orcus became a forest-elf; a black, hairy, man-eating monster, upon whose house children lost in the woods are quick to stumble on, but who sometimes showed himself to be kindly and helpful. His symbols were a scepter and Cerberus; he wore a helmet given to him by the Cyclops that was said to make him invisible, and he sat on a throne made of ebony, and carried a scepter. Many Greek heroes were said to have descended into the Underworld, either to question the dead or trying to free people they loved from death. Instead of the life-hating god of death, he became a beneficent god, the bestower of grain, minerals, and other blessings produced in the depths of the earth. Demeter's moods at Persephone's arrival and departure is said to be why we have the seasons. Hades, although ruling alone, had various "helpers" in the Underworld. During this time he was called Pluto, the "giver of wealth". He was assisted by Thanatos, the death god; Hypnos; Charon, the ferryman across the river Styx; and the three-headed dog Cerberus.
Common topics in this essay:
Demeter Hades,
Zeus Poseidon,
Cerberus Greek,
Illustrious Eubulus,
Pluto Romanesque,
Underworld Hades,
Chthonian Greek,
Romans Hades,
Hades Greek,
Hera Aphrodite,
zeus poseidon,
feared gods,
death god,
dead leave,
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