hades

Hades is a deity in ancient Greek religion and mythology, ruler of the Underworld and the realm of the dead. He is one of the three brothers who divided the cosmos after the Titanomachy, along with Zeus (sky) and Poseidon (sea). Although he governs the afterlife, Hades is not Death itself; rather, he presides over the orderly maintenance of the dead and the wealth associated with subterranean riches. In myth, his wife is Persephone, whom he abducted to become queen of the Underworld, a story that explains the seasonal cycle through Demeter's grief.

Iconography and functions: Hades is commonly depicted with symbols such as the helm of invisibility, a scepter, and sometimes Cerberus, the multi-headed guardian of the gates. He is typically portrayed as stern and inexorable but not wholly malevolent, and his affairs with mortals or heroes often center on themes of oath-keeping, punishment, or fate. His realm contains regions of reward and punishment as well as the general domain of the dead, and in some accounts he is also associated with wealth underground (often called Ploutos).

Cult and interpretation: In classical Greece, Hades did not have as large a public cult as Zeus or Athena, and his worship tended to be chthonic, tied to funerary rites and rites of passage rather than civic festivals. Temples and sanctuaries connected with the Underworld were scattered in various regions, including Magna Graecia.

Modern media: The name Hades also appears in contemporary culture as the title of a 2020 action roguelike video game by Supergiant Games. The game follows Zagreus, the prince of the Underworld, and features interactions with the Olympian gods who grant abilities as part of the narrative.