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Greek Mythology > Immortals >
Hades HAY deez
Lord of the Underworld
Hades is one of the six Olympians, i.e. one of the six children of Kronos (Cronos) and Rhea. He and his two brothers divided creation into thirds and each took a portion for their own. Hades chose, as his dominion, The Underworld.
When mortals kneel before the cold hearted Hades, he metes out somber justice and no one, once there, can ever leave his domain (except, of course, Herakles (Heracles), Odysseus, Orpheus and a few others).
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The Abduction of Persephone
The story of the abduction of Persephone is a touching explanation for the harshness of Winter and the sweetness of Spring. Hades was so overwhelmed by Persephone’s sweet charms that, instead of wooing her, he abducted her against her will and dragged her to The Underworld.
Hades and Zeus had plotted to abduct the young girl away in secret but their plans were foiled when Helios (the Sun) saw the evil act and told Demeter the fate of her missing child. Persephone was helpless against the wiles of Zeus and remained the unwilling captive of Hades. After several years Demeter found a way to force Zeus’ hand and free her daughter.
Demeter sat in her new home at Eleusis and cursed the earth with famine. Seeds would not grow. Plowed fields remained empty. Zeus and the other immortals were worried that this would be the end of mortal life on earth and thus, their worshipers would die. One by one, the immortals begged her to forgive and forget but Demeter was unmoved.
Zeus sent Hermes to speak gentle words to Hades and persuade him to let Persephone return to her brooding mother. Hades was sympathetic but he was also intent on keeping his bride. He tricked Persephone into eating a pomegranate seed and by doing so she was forever bound to him. Persephone returned to the world of light to see her mother but her stay was only temporary.
Demeter was joyous when Persephone came to her and roused herslf from her destructive brooding. But her joy was tempered by the trickery of Hades and the honey-sweet pomegranate seed. The only one who could change Demeter’s heart was her mother. After pleas from Rhea, Demeter lifted her curse and allowed the earth to blossom and be fruitful again.
It was decreed by Zeus that Persephone would spend two thirds of the year with her mother and the remaining third with her husband, Hades. Each year when Persephone returns from the underworld, Demeter showers the earth with gentle rain and sweet breezes. Each time Persephone returns to Hades, Demeter hardens her heart and the earth is wracked with bitter cold and harsh winds.
Hades is often confused with the Roman god, Pluto.
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Hades in The Iliad (listed by book and line)
- 01.004 ...Homer asks the Muse to sing of the thousands of souls that Akhilleus (Achilles) sent to the house of Hades
- 03.277 ...As Menelaos (Menelaus) prepares to fight Alexandros (Paris), Agamemnon calls upon Zeus, Helios (who sees and hears all), the earth, the rivers and ‘he who dwells under the earth’ to take vengeance on anyone who does not stay true to their oath
- 03.322 ...All the soldiers prayed that any man who breaks an oath be sent to the house of Hades
- 05.394 ...Dione explains to the wounded Aphrodite that many of the Immortals had suffered wounds like when Hades was wounded by Amphitryon
- 05.646 ...The son of Herakles (Heracles), Tlepolemos (Tlepolemus), tells Sarpedon that even though he is the son of Zeus he will be beaten down and pass through the gates of Hades
- 05.654 ...Sarpedon assures the son of Herakles (Heracles), Tlepolemos (Tlepolemus), that his soul will be given to Hades
- 06.284 ...Hektor (Hector) tells his mother, Hekabe (Hecabe), that he wishes that his brother, Alexandros (Paris), had gone to the house of the Death God, i.e. Hades
- 06.422 ...Andromakhe (Andromache) tells her hunband, Hektor (Hector), that Akhilleus (Achilles) sent her father and seven brothers to the house of the Death God, i.e. Hades
- 06.487 ...Hektor (Hector) tells his wife, Andromakhe (Andromache), that no one will send him to Hades unless it is fated
- 07.131 ...Nestor scolds the assembled Argives and tells them that Peleus would descend into the house of Hades if he knew how the army had cringed before the might of Hektor (Hector)
- 07.330 ...Nestor laments the many souls that have gone to the house of Hades
- 08.367 ...Athene (Athena) tells Hera about the time she helped Herakles (Heracles) when he had to go to Hades of the Gates to retrieve the hound, Kerberos (Cerberus), from the grisly Death God
- 09.158 ...Agamemnon says that Akhilleus (Achilles) should give up his anger because, of all the Immortals, Hades never relents and, for that reason, is the most hated of the gods
- 09.312 ...Akhilleus (Achilles) tells Odysseus that he detests the gates of Hades as much as he detests a man who speaks one thing and means another
- 09.457 ...When Phoinix’s (Phoenix) father learned that his son had seduced his mistress, he called down curses on his son and named the Furies, Zeus of the Underworld, i.e. Hades, and Persephone
- 09.569 ...Phoinix (Phoenix) tells Akhilleus (Achilles) about the stubbornness of Meleagros (Meleager) and how Meleagros’ mother had prayed to Hades and Persephone for the death of her own son
- 11.055 ...When the Trojans approached the defensive ditch that protected the ships, Zeus was minded to send a multitude of souls to the house of Hades
- 11.263 ...Agamemnon sent the sons of Antenor to the house of the Death God, i.e. Hades
- 11.445 ...Odysseus prepares to kill Sokos and tells him that he will be sent to Hades of the Horses
- 13.415 ...Deiphobos (Deiphobus) kills Hypsenor and shouts that he has avenged the death of his friend, Asios, and now his friend has company as he goes to Hades of the Gates
- 14.457 ...Poulydamas (Polydamas) mortally wounds Prothoenor and tells him that he may use the javelin in his shoulder as a walking stick as he enters the house of Hades
- 15.188 ...Poseidon tells Iris that he, Zeus and Hades were born to Rheia (Rhea) and Kronos (Cronos)
- 15.191 ...Poseidon tells Iris that lots were drawn for the division of creation and he won the sea, Zeus won the sky and Hades drew the lot for the mists and darkness
- 15.252 ...Hektor (Hector) tells Apollon that, during the recent battle, he thought that he was sure go to the house of the Death God, i.e. Hades
- 16.625 ...During the fight for the body of Patroklos (Patroclus), Meriones warns Aineias (Aeneas) that he will soon be with Hades of the Horses
- 16.856 ...As Patroklos (Patroclus) died, his soul went into the house of Hades
- 20.060 ...When Poseidon shook the earth, Aidoneus, lord of the dead, i.e. Hades, jumped from his throne because he thought the houses of the dead would crack open and be exposed to mortal and Immortal alike
- 22.052 ...Priam laments his many sons that Akhilleus (Achilles) has sent to the house of Hades
- 22.362 ...As Hektor (Hector) died, his soul went into the house of Hades
- 22.389 ...While gloating over the dead body of Hektor (Hector), Akhilleus (Achilles) says that even though men forget the dead in the house of Hades, he will never forget his dead friend, Patroklos (Patroclus)
- 23.019 ...Akhilleus (Achilles) hails his dead friend, Patroklos (Patroclus), even in the house of the Death God, i.e. Hades
- 23.071 ...The ghost of Patroklos (Patroclus) stands over the sleeping Akhilleus (Achilles) and urges him to bury him as quickly as possible so that he may pass the gates of Hades
- 23.074 ...The ghost of Patroklos (Patroclus) stands over the sleeping Akhilleus (Achilles) and says that he wanders by the gates to Hades’ house
- 23.103 ...After hearing the voice of the dead Patroklos (Patroclus), Akhilleus (Achilles) realizes that even if a body is in the house of Hades there is something left of that person
- 23.137 ...Akhilleus (Achilles) prepared the body of Patroklos (Patroclus) for his journey towards Hades
- 23.179 ...Akhilleus (Achilles) hails Patroklos (Patroclus) even though he was in the house of the Death God, i.e. Hades
- 23.244 ...Akhilleus (Achilles) tells Agamemnon and the assembled Argives to gather the bones of Patroklos (Patroclus) and wrap them in animal fat so that they can be ready for Hades
- 24.246 ...Priam addresses the people of Troy and says that he wishes that he was in the house of the Death God, i.e. Hades
- 24.593 ...Akhilleus (Achilles) begs Patroklos (Patroclus), who is in the house of Hades, to forgive him for returning the body of Hektor (Hector) to the Trojans
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Hades in The Odyssey (listed by book and line)
- 03.410 ...At his home, Nestor sat on the same stones that his father had sat upon before he was taken to the house of Hades
- 04.834 ...In a dream, Penelope asks Athene (Athena) if her husband, Odysseus, is in the house of Hades
- 06.011 ...The founder of the Phaiakian (Phaeacian) city, Nausithoos (Nausithous), died and went to the house of Hades
- 09.524 ...Odysseus tells the Cyclops, Polyphemos (Polyphemus), that he wants to send him to the house of Hades
- 10.175 ...On Kirke’s (Circe) island, Odysseus killed a large stag and encouraged his hungry men by telling them that they were not yet fated to go to the house of Hades
- 10.491 ...Kirke (Circe) tells Odysseus that he must go to the house of Hades and Persephone to seek out the prophet, Teiresias
- 10.502 ...Odysseus weeps and tells Kirke (Circe) that no ship has ever found the way to Hades
- 10.512 ...Kirke (Circe) gives Odysseus instructions on how to find the moldering home of Hades
- 10.534 ...Kirke (Circe) tells Odysseus that, when he reaches the abode of Hades and Persephone, he must not let the dead drink the sacrificial blood until he has questioned them
- 10.560 ...Elpenor died when he fell from the roof of Kirke’s (Circe) palace and his soul went down to Hades
- 10.564 ...Odysseus tells his men that they must go to the house of Hades and Persephone
- 11.047 ...After making an animal sacrifice at the entrance to the Underworld, Odysseus prays to Hades and Persephone
- 11.065 ...Odysseus meets the ghost of Elpenor and he tells Odysseus how his soul went down to Hades
- 11.069 ...The ghost of Elpenor says that, in order to avoid a curse by one of the Immortals after Odysseus leaves the house of Hades, he must return to Kirke’s (Circe) island and give proper death-rights to the body of Elpenor
- 11.151 ...After giving his prophecy to Odysseus, the ghost of Teiresias returned to the house of Hades
- 11.164 ...Odysseus explains to the ghost of his mother, Antikleia (Anticleia), that a duty brought him to the house of Hades
- 11.211 ...Odysseus laments that he cannot hold his mother, Antikleia (Anticleia), while she is in the house of Hades
- 11.277 ...While in the Underworld, Odysseus learns that the mother/wife of Oedipus, Iokaste (Jocasta), went down to Hades of the Gates because she had hanged herself
- 11.426 ...In the Underworld, the ghost of Agamemnon tells Odysseus that he came to Hades with his eyes and mouth still open because his murderous wife, Klytemnestra (Clytemnestra) did not care enough for him to give him that simple dignity
- 11.475 ...In the Underworld, the ghost of Akhilleus (Achilles) asks Odysseus how he could bear to come to the house of Hades
- 11.571 ...In the Underworld, Odysseus saw the ghost of Minos passing out judgments to those who were seated and standing at the house of Hades
- 11.625 ...In the Underworld, Odysseus saw the ghost of Herakles (Heracles) and the hero told Odysseus how he had once taken Kerberos (Cerberus) from the place of Hades into the light of day
- 11.627 ...After speaking to Odysseus, the ghost of Herakles (Heracles) returned to the realm of Hades
- 11.635 ...Odysseus feels genuine fear before he finally leaves the Underworld; he fears that Persephone will send the head of the Gorgon from the house of Hades to attack him
- 12.017 ...After returning to Kirke’s (Circe) island, the goddess did not know that Odysseus had come from the house of Hades
- 12.021 ...Kirke (Circe) addresses Odysseus and his crew and tells them that most humans only have to go to the house of Hades once but that they will have to return there when they die
- 12.383 ...Helios threatens Zeus that he will go to Hades and shine his light on the dead if Odysseus and his crew are not punished for killing his cattle
- 14.156 ...The disguised Odysseus tells the swineherd, Eumaios (Eumaeus), that he detests the gates of Hades as much as he detests a poor man who lies to gain favor
- 14.208 ...The disguised Odysseus lies to the swineherd, Eumaios (Eumaeus), and says that his father is in the house of Hades
- 15.350 ...The disguised Odysseus asks the swineherd, Eumaios (Eumaeus), if Odysseus’ parents are alive or in the house of Hades
- 20.208 ...The cowherd, Philoitios (Philoetius), meets the disguised Odysseus and says that he hopes his master (Odysseus) is not in the house of Hades
- 23.252 ...Odysseus tells his wife, Penelope, about his encounter with the prophet, Teiresias, at the house of Hades
- 23.322 ...Odysseus tells his wife, Penelope, about his encounter with the prophet, Teiresias, at the house of Hades
- 24.204 ...Odysseus tells Penelope about the ghosts of the dead he saw at the gates of Hades
- 24.264 ...Odysseus speaks to his father and makes a reference to the house of Hades
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