by Barbara Stockton

Created on: September 05, 2008   Last Updated: September 19, 2010

Hades, God of the Underworld

Humans always found death a frightening thing to contemplate, but though it is frightening the mystery of death has always fascinated us. What happens after death?  Is this life all that there is then total abyss?  Who really knows but many cultures have their myths about death,the after life, and Heaven and Hell. The only real similarities with these many diverse cultures is that they all seem to believe that there is more after death, whether it be a utopia like heaven or a penancelike hell. The Christians have their God who oversees man and heaven and the Devil who corrupts man and rules over eternal damnation or hell as it is known. TheGreeks were no different and they have their Utopia what they called the Elysian Fields where the good souls go and then of coursethe under world where all the dammed went. 

The God of the underworld was Hades.Hades was the son of the Titans, Cronus and Rhea.He had three sisters, Demeter, Hestia and Hera and two brothers Poseidon and Zeus.The six of the war the Olympian gods. Upon adulthood the younger gods rose up against the older gods( the Titans). The younger gods went to the three cyclopes to get help with defeating the 'titans and were given three weapons the first was the Helm of Darkness which was given to Hades and Zeus received the Thunderbolt and Poseidon receive the Trident.

With the use of the helmet Hades became invisible and slipped into the Titans 'scamp and stole their weapons.. the war lasted ten years with the younger gods victorious. after their victory they drew lots to see what realm they would rule over. Zeus drew the sky , Poseidon the oceans and Hates the under ground.

Hades is portrayed in Mythology as passive rather than evil and his main role was maintaining balance. By mortals, Hades was viewed a fearsome figure on his dark chariot drawn by four coal black horses sent chills through-out ones body. The fear of Hades also prevented many form saying his name. He was referred to by many other names such as Clymenus(notorious), Euliuleus(well-guessing) and Polydegmon( one who receives many).

Although he was an Olympian god, he spent most of his time in the land of the dead. Because of his dark and morbid personality he was not well received by both gods and men alike. He was hated by man because he was considered unyielding and he represented the finality of death. He was not , however and evil god because even though he was

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