A STAR NAMED HADES

Ralph Fiennes, aka Voldemort, will be starring as Hades, Lord of the Underworld, in a remake of “Clash of the Titans”. Co-starring with him will be Liam Neeson as Zeus. The film is scheduled to begin production in the United Kingdome later this month:

by Joan Inong

Hades is the Greek god of the underworld. He is the son of Cronus, the god of time or father time, and Rhea, the Mother Earth. This is why Hades is often depicted by the horn of plenty, and perhaps why he was so drawn to Persephone. [The Constellation Virgo is depicted as Persephone] Virgo: (August 23 – September 22):

Hades is the brother of Zeus and Poseidon. Because they defeated the Titans, they were able to divide the earth into three parts amongst themselves. Therefore, Zeus got the heavens, Poseidon ruled over the seas, and Hades took control over the underworld. Hades's name means "the unseen one" because he rules over the abode of the dead, and usually when people die they are not seen anymore. Thus, it is rare that Hades ever associates with the gods and goddesses who stay up on Mount Olympus. In older Greek mythology, Hades is the name of the actual underworld. Hades was divided into sections, including a special one for fallen heroes.

Perhaps the most famous myth in which Hades is included is the story of Persephone. He was stricken by the beautiful young maiden when her mother, Demeter, was not around. And, of course, since Persephone was the child of the goddess of agriculture and harvest, Hades had to have her. He waited until she was very hungry and unfortunately, Persephone did not know that if she ate anything in the underworld, she was bound to that realm forever. So, she ate a pomegranate and was instantly married to Hades. When her mother came looking for her and found out from other gods that Hades had taken Persephone, Hades tells her mother that he had done nothing wrong. So they struck a deal because the earth was suffering from bad crops and starvation, and Demeter was able to keep Persephone for a third of the year (spring) and Hades the rest of the year in which the earth was "grieving" (winter).

In illustrations, Hades is often depicted as "the rich one," because of his affiliation with precious metals. He may be carrying a horn of plenty over his shoulders. He is also called "Pluto" or "Pluton," which also means "the wealthy one."

Pluto's (or Hades') Golden Chariot was used whenever the Lord of the Underworld wished to visit the Upperworld, usually to seduce a nymph. But when he took Persephone back to Tartarus, the deepest part of Hades, the Upperworld would change forever.

It was considered imprudent and dangerous to mention the names of certain gods and goddesses. Thus the Furies, or Cronies, were called Eumenides (Kindly Ones), and Hades was called Pluto (Rich One).

His golden chariot was pulled by four jet-black horses. While he used the chariot to periodically visit the Upperworld, in order to seduce a beautiful nymph, he rarely wished the relationship to last. Until he saw Persephone, the daughter of Demeter and Zeus.

Eventually, however, these stars of Libra came to represent the Golden Chariot of Pluto. The story of Pluto's abduction of Persephone is a widely known Greek myth, perhaps because it has such a strong astronomical association.

Thanks to Hades, however, Zeus was able to get his name as the greatest of the gods. Perhaps without Hades, Zeus would never have gotten that far. With the help of Hades and Poseidon, the three were able to defeat the older Titans in the Titanomachy, a ten-year long war which involved the younger Titans trying to take control from the older ones.

Although Hades is considered the god of the underworld, it seems that his powers are also somewhat opposites. He is also the god of plenty (or richness), which, when compared to his power of the dead, seems very counterintuitive. However, like all of the Olympian gods, Hades's powers are not one-dimensional to say the least.

Learn more about this author, Joan Inong.

Hades was a mysterious and ominous character, Hades the god of the underworld was an imposing figure in the Greek Olympic pantheon.
Hades is often depicted as a somber man with a glare. He ruled over the underworld with an iron fist.

In Greek mythology, the God of the underworld is Hades. Also known as the Unseen One or the Invisible One.
Hades the Greek god of the underworld was the son of Cronus, the god of time or father time, and Rhea, the Mother
MORE OF THE STORY: http://www.dibonsmith.com/lib_con.htm

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A STAR NAMED HADES

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Greek mythology: Who is Hades?

by Joan Inong

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