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— CH. 1 · THE UNSEEN ONE —

Hades

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  • In ancient Greek, the name Hades meant "the unseen one," a direct contrast to his brother Zeus who represented the brightness of day. Modern linguists trace this root back to the Proto-Greek form *Awides, though some scholars like Martin Litchfield West argue it originally meant "the one who presides over meeting up." Plato's dialogue Cratylus contains an extensive section on this etymology where Socrates argues for a folk meaning derived from "his knowledge of all noble things." The earliest attested form appears as Aïdēs without the proposed digamma sound that later languages would develop. By classical times the name evolved into Háidēs with the iota becoming silent and eventually omitted entirely in modern usage.

  • Hades was the eldest son of Cronus and Rhea yet became the last child regurgitated by their father after Zeus forced him to disgorge his siblings. This divine war known as the Titanomachy lasted ten years before the younger gods defeated the Titans and claimed joint sovereignty over the cosmos. Armed with the helm of invisibility forged by the Cyclopes, Hades helped defeat the elder generation alongside his brothers Zeus and Poseidon. Following their victory they drew lots to divide realms: Zeus received the sky, Poseidon the sea, and Hades the underworld which included any things beneath the earth. Homer's Iliad Book 15 lines 187 through 93 records Poseidon speaking about how he received the grey sea while Hades drew the murky darkness.

  • Persephone did not submit willingly but was abducted by Hades while picking flowers in the fields of Nysa where her father had previously given her to him as wife. The Homeric Hymn to Demeter dating back to the beginning of the 6th century BC tells this story most completely. Helios informed grieving Demeter that Hades was an unworthy groom despite being king on his own right. Hermes descended into Hades realm finding the god seated upon a couch with Persephone beside him. After complying with Zeus message Hades secretly gave Persephone a pomegranate seed to eat before sending Hermes to take reins for their journey back to Earth above.

  • Orpheus once descended into the underworld searching for his late wife Eurydice who died when a snake bit her. His music charmed even Hades and Persephone allowing him to take Eurydice to land of living as long as he did not look back at her on way out. Theseus and Pirithous traveled to underworld intending to kidnap daughters of Zeus though Pirithous chose Persephone specifically. As soon as pair sat down snakes coiled around feet holding them there until Heracles rescued Theseus while Pirithous remained trapped or killed by Cerberus depending on version. Sisyphus rolled boulder up hill in underworld only for it to roll down again every time reaching top as punishment for trying to cheat death.

  • Since saying word "Hades" was frightening Greeks started referring to him as Plouton meaning "the rich one" derived from word Ploutos. Sophocles explained gloomy Hades enriches himself with our sighs and tears when using this euphemism. When propitiating Hades people banged hands on ground to ensure he would hear them rather than looking directly at altar. Black animals like sheep were sacrificed to him while blood dripped into pit or cleft in ground. The person offering sacrifice had to avert face because simply pronouncing his name invited unwanted attention from the god who rarely left underworld domain.

  • Hades appeared infrequently in artwork because Greeks feared him so much that depictions were not concretely thought of as deity during Archaic period. On pottery he has dark beard presented as stately figure seated upon ebony throne. His attributes include bident less commonly scepter helm cornucopias roosters and key playing doubly symbolic role representing control over underworld. Cerberus three-headed guard dog ensured souls could enter freely yet none escape even if doors opened sometimes artists painted Hades looking away from other gods as he was disliked by both humans and deities. As Pluto later regarded more positively he held cornucopia representing gifts bestowed upon people as well fertility connected to earth below.

  • Philosopher Heraclitus declared Hades same as Dionysos for whom they raved and acted like bacchantes according to surviving fragment about festival of Phallophoria. Karl Kerényi notes Homeric Hymn To Demeter mentions Queen Metaneira offered disguised Demeter beaker sweet wine which she refused since drinking red wine would violate themis nature order justice. This suggests subterranean wine god was ravisher making it impossible for Demeter accept gift from Dionysus after Persephone abduction. Orphics worshipped Pluto as savior judge deceased while Zeus chthonios meaning chthonic Zeus extended universal power into kingdom dead where he judged dead also consort Persephone-Kore providing riches as Ploutodotes.

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Common questions

What does the name Hades mean in ancient Greek?

In ancient Greek, the name Hades meant the unseen one. Modern linguists trace this root back to the Proto-Greek form Awides while some scholars like Martin Litchfield West argue it originally meant the one who presides over meeting up.

How did Hades become ruler of the underworld after the Titanomachy?

Hades was the eldest son of Cronus and Rhea yet became the last child regurgitated by their father after Zeus forced him to disgorge his siblings. Following their victory in the ten-year war known as the Titanomachy, Hades drew lots to divide realms and received the underworld which included any things beneath the earth.

Why did Greeks start referring to Hades as Plouton instead of using his real name?

Since saying word Hades was frightening Greeks started referring to him as Plouton meaning the rich one derived from word Ploutos. When propitiating Hades people banged hands on ground to ensure he would hear them rather than looking directly at altar because simply pronouncing his name invited unwanted attention from the god who rarely left underworld domain.

What happened when Orpheus descended into the underworld searching for Eurydice?

Orpheus once descended into the underworld searching for his late wife Eurydice who died when a snake bit her. His music charmed even Hades and Persephone allowing him to take Eurydice to land of living as long as he did not look back at her on way out.

How is Hades depicted in ancient Greek artwork during the Archaic period?

Hades appeared infrequently in artwork because Greeks feared him so much that depictions were not concretely thought of as deity during Archaic period. On pottery he has dark beard presented as stately figure seated upon ebony throne with attributes including bident less commonly scepter helm cornucopias roosters and key playing doubly symbolic role representing control over underworld.

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All sources

75 references cited across the entry

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