Greek mythology includes numerous outstanding and influential figures worth researching. Besides, the details of this vibrant world imply many fascinating insights that can be translated into modern society. One of the Greek gods is Hades, “the god of death and the dead,” who was also called “the King of the underworld,” Aides, or Pluto (“Hades (Aides, Aidoneus)” para. 1). The purpose of this paper is to research the events and facts from the life of Hades.
First, it is crucial to look into the family background and how Hades became the lord of the underworld. He is the brother of Poseidon and Zeus, and the son of Cronus and Rhea, where Poseidon became the ruler of the sea and Hades – the ruler of the world below the ground (Jung, p. 1). A curious fact is that two brothers became the lords of the vast, mighty domains, where they are ruling over the humans’ shadows. In other words, they “are united in their rulership of the unconscious realms,” while Zeus is commanding the sky. (Jung, p. 1). Thus, Hades comes from an influential family, where each sibling is the King and has his territory. The division came after the victory over Titans, and when Hades found himself in the underworld, he couldn’t even hear anything from the living world (“Hades (Aides, Aidoneus)” para. 3). It is possible to say that Hades lived among the shadows in his kingdom.
It is also essential to mention the private life of the Greek god. When Hades became the ruler of his domain, he desired a wife and agreed with Zeus that the latter would give one of his daughters (“Hades (Aides, Aidoneus)” para. 5). As a result, despite her unwillingness, Persephone became Hades’ wife. Persephone was guided into the trap, and, after the wrath of her mother, Demeter, Hades agreed to return her (“Hades (Aides, Aidoneus)” para. 5). However, the King of the underworld did not want to give up so quickly and came up with a trick that would bind Persephone to his domain. Hades tricked his bride with sweet pomegranate, after consuming which she had to return to the world of the dead anyway (“Hades (Aides, Aidoneus)” para. 5). In such a way, Hades got one of Zeus’ daughters as his wife, as agreed and desired.
Another curious fact from the analyzed Greek god’s life is that he possessed the invisibility helmet. Cyclops gave this head-dress to Hades during the war between Zeus and Cronus, which enabled the lord of the underworld to steal his father’s weapons (Jung, p. 8). This aspect can be compared to the psychology of personality, because on the earth, outside of his kingdom, Hades is invisible and cannot be recognized. Putting it differently, it refers “to an absence of persona,” which characterizes the essence of this god and his powers (Jung, p. 9). Consequently, Hades, as the leader of the souls who left the earth, became an invisible shadow in the world of the living.
Different myths, involving other characters, are created around the life of Hades. For instance, one of the stories describes the connection between Hades and Heracles’s intention to take Cerberus from the underworld. The narrative states that the underworld lord let Heracles take the beast under the condition that he can defeat him (“Hades (Aides, Aidoneus)” para. 7). Another myth talks about the enchantment of Hades and Persephone by Orpheus’s music. Orpheus succeeded in the attempts to return his wife to earth, after alluring the god of the dead and his wife (“Hades (Aides, Aidoneus)” para. 7). In conclusion, it is possible to say that Hades is a significant figure in Greek mythology, and numerous stories and attributes revolve around his life.
Works Cited
“Hades (Aides, Aidoneus, Pluto, Orcus).” GreekGods.
Jung, Carl. Poseidon and Hades: Unconscious and Underworld.