Apart from his multiple heads, Cerberus is noted also for the snakes that grew on his back and his serpent tail.Ĭerberus was a fearsome monster indeed, though unsurprising considering his parentage. Incidentally, the poet Hesiod mentions that Cerberus had 50 heads.
In this role, Hades is viewed as a generous and benevolent god.Īnother unmistakable attribute of Hades is Cerberus, his three-headed dog. This includes precious metals, as well as fertile soil necessary for the growing of crops. The Greeks believed that Hades’ rulership of the Underworld meant that the god also had access to the secret wealth that is hidden in the earth. Hades, god of the Underworld, the dead, and riches.( Archivist / Adobe Stock ) It may be mentioned that Hades’ role as a god of wealth is often overshadowed by his role as the god of the dead. Nevertheless, there are certain attributes that allow one to identify this god, including a scepter and key, both of which are symbols of his dominion of the Underworld, and a cornucopia (horn of plenty), which points to his role as a god of wealth. Hades is so infrequently depicted in art that there are no strict rules as to how this deity ought to be represented. This is not surprising, considering that death was a subject that people would normally avoid. Other epithets given to Hades include Polysemantor (Ruler of Many), Polydegmon (Host of Many), and Nekrodegmon (Receiver of the Dead).ĭespite being a major god, Hades does not appear as often as the other Olympians in Greek art. How Hades is ViewedĪs death was considered to be a taboo subject, Hades was also given several euphemistic epithets, such as Plouton, meaning ‘Of Wealth’, and Theon / Zeus Khthonios, meaning ‘God / Zeus of the Underworld’. As the ruler of the Underworld, Hades’ name is commonly said to mean ‘Unseen / Invisible One’. Zeus was given rulership of the sky, Poseidon the sea, and Hades the Underworld. The helm of darkness was also lent to the hero Perseus during his quest to slay the dreaded Gorgon Medusa.įollowing the defeat of the Titans, the three brothers, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, divided the universe among themselves by drawing lots.
Hades is known to have lent his helm of darkness to the other gods.įor instance, during the Trojan War, Athena wore this helm when she aided the Greek hero Diomedes. Some believe that after the Titanomachy, the helm became even more powerful and gained the ability to control the dead. This headgear allowed its wearer to become invisible. Zeus was given the lightning bolt, Poseidon the trident, and Hades the helm of darkness. In the end, the younger generation of gods, who became known as the Olympians, triumphed over the Titans.ĭuring the Titanomachy, the Cyclopes, who had been freed by the Olympians, made powerful weapons for the gods. The resulting war between the two generations of gods is known as the Titanomachy. When Zeus grew up, he returned to Cronus, freed his siblings, and challenged the Titans for supremacy. Fearing that one of his own children would eventually overpower him and replace him as king of the gods, Cronus devoured his children, including Hades, as soon as they were born.Ĭronus’ youngest son, Zeus, however, was saved by his mother and raised in secret.
His father was the Titan Cronus, while his mother was Rhea. The ancient Greeks believed that Hades belonged to the first generation of Olympian gods. Titanomachy Brings a New Generation of Gods As one of the major Greek gods, Hades is featured in a number of myths, normally as a supporting character, but sometimes as a main one as well. Nevertheless, he is not considered to be a member of the Twelve Olympians, as he resided not on Mount Olympus, but in the Underworld instead.Īs Hades’ domain is located beneath the earth, the Greeks also believed that he was the god of the earth’s hidden wealth.
Thus, he was an important god in the Greek pantheon. In Greek mythology, Hades was the god of the dead and the ruler of the Underworld.
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