Hades

Hades God of the Underworld Ruler of the Dead God of Wealth

Genealogy: Parents: The Titans, Cronus and Rhea Siblings: Zeus and Poseidon Wife: Persephone

Characteristics: Greedy, Forceful, Bearded, Gloomy, Wealthy, Fiercely protective of his rights

Hades, together with his brothers, overthrew their father. After the war, the brothers drew lots for dominion over the three sections of the world: the sky, the sea, and the underworld. Hades drew the underworld. Although many consider him an Olympian, he rarely leaves the underworld to meet on Mount Olympus. As the supreme ruler of the underworld, he claimed all of the precious gems and metals of the earth as his own. That is why he is known as the God of Wealth. His rule over the dead who have been given proper burial rights is his main duty; however, he also metes out the punishments other gods have imposed on the dead.



Hades fell in love with the goddess Persephone, who is the daughter of Demeter: Goddess of Agriculture and Vegetation. Zeus was Persephone's father. He gave Hades permission to marry her; however, Demeter was vehemently opposed to the marriage. Because of this disagreement, Hades had to abduct Persephone in order to taker her to the underworld. She then became the Queen of the Underworld. This is quite an interesting myth, but it is Demeter's story to tell.

The last bit of information I want to share with you is about the world that Hades ruled: THE UNDERWORLD. The underworld was a myriad of rivers that the dead crossed before their entrance. The river they crossed influenced the happiness or misery of their eternal stay. There were five rivers: **Acheron** / river of sadness, **Cocytus** / river of lamentation, **Lethe** / river of forgetfulness, **Phlegethon** / river of fire, **Styx** / river of hate. Once the dead person crossed a river, he/she arrived at the gate to the underworld. This gate was viciously protected by Cerberus, a three headed dog. Cerberus made sure that unwelcomed visitors did not enter, and he made sure that no one left the realm of the underworld.



For more fascinating information about the underworld and the god that mortals feared the most, read one of the many myths about Hades.