Friday, December 5, 2008

Hades


Hades is the god of the Underworld which can be referred to as simply Hades. Hades abducted his wife Persephone from the Upperworld. Zeus demanded that he release Persephone to the Upperworld. Hades gave Persephone a pomegranate seed which she ate and she was tied to the Underworld forever. She returns to the Upperworld every spring, for she is the goddess of spring. Hades sits on a throne of ebony and he has a scepter. He also has a helmet that makes him completely. Hades rules the dead with Demonic helpers such as "Thanatos and Hypnos, the ferryman Charon, and the hound Cerberus." Many heroes from Greek mythology have descended into the underworld, either to question the shades or trying to free them. "Although Hades does not allow his subjects to leave his domain, on several occasions he has granted permission, such as when Orpheus requested the return of his beloved Eurydice." Hades is the most avoided god, even by other gods. Mortals would not speak his name because they were afraid of drawing unwanted attention from him.

(All quotes from www.pantheon.org)