Hades: Lord of the Underworld

In the ancient stories of Greek mythology, the universe was divided among three powerful brothers after a great war against the Titans. Zeus, the leader, took control of the vast skies. Poseidon became the ruler of the deep blue seas. The third brother, Hades, was given the realm of the Underworld. While his brothers lived on the bright heights of Mount Olympus, Hades spent his time in the dark, silent kingdom beneath the earth. Because he lived away from the other gods, many people misunderstood him, but he played one of the most important roles in all of mythology.

The Underworld was not considered a place of punishment like the 'hell' described in some modern stories. Instead, the Greeks believed it was a final resting place for everyone who passed away. It was a massive, hidden kingdom with its own geography. To enter, a soul had to be guided by Hermes to the banks of the River Styx. There, a ferryman named Charon waited in a small boat. However, Charon did not work for free. Ancient Greeks would place a small coin, called an obol, in the mouths of the deceased so they could pay the ferryman for the trip across the water.

Once across the river, visitors would meet the most famous guardian in history: Cerberus. Cerberus was a giant dog with three heads and a tail like a serpent. His job was unique because he wasn't there to keep people out; he was there to make sure no one ever left. Hades was a very strict ruler who valued order. He believed that once a soul entered his kingdom, they belonged there forever. He rarely allowed anyone to return to the land of the living, which made him a feared figure among mortals.

Inside the kingdom, Hades sat on a throne made of ebony. He was often described as a stern, unsmiling god, but he was not considered evil. He was a just judge who made sure that souls were sent to the correct part of the Underworld based on how they lived their lives. Heroes and truly good people were sent to the Elysian Fields, a beautiful paradise of sunshine and music. People who were neither great nor wicked went to the Asphodel Meadows, a plain of grey flowers where they lived a quiet, simple existence. Those who had committed terrible crimes were sent to Tartarus, a deep pit of darkness.

Hades was also known as the god of wealth. This might seem strange for a god of the dead, but it made perfect sense to the Greeks. Since he ruled everything beneath the surface of the earth, he owned all the precious metals like gold and silver, as well as the glittering gemstones found in mines. He also presided over the soil that helped crops grow. Because of this, he was sometimes called 'Pluto,' which means 'the rich one.'

One of the most famous myths involving Hades is the story of his wife, Persephone. Hades fell in love with Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, the goddess of the harvest. He took her to the Underworld to be his queen. Demeter was so heartbroken that she stopped the plants from growing, causing the first winter. Eventually, a deal was struck. Because Persephone had eaten six pomegranate seeds while in the Underworld, she had to stay with Hades for six months of every year. When she is with Hades, the world is cold and brown (winter). When she returns to her mother, the flowers bloom and the world turns green again (spring).

Though Hades is often portrayed as a villain in modern movies, the ancient Greeks saw him differently. To them, he was a necessary part of the cycle of life. He was a serious, hardworking god who kept the balance of the universe by ensuring that the laws of life and death were always followed.