In Greek mythology, Hades and his brothers Zeus and Poseidon over threw the Titans and claimed ruler ship over the universe controlling the underworld, sky, and ocean, equally. Hades was also named Pluto which meant “the unseen one” or “the rich one”. In older Greek myths, Hades is the foggy and dark home of the dead, where all mortals go. Hades was son of the titans Kronos and Rhea. He had 3 sisters Demeter, Hestia, and Hera. He also has 2 brothers Zeus and Poseidon.

 When Hades and his other brother Poseidon were born their father Kronos swallowed them to prevent the prophecy of them overthrowing his rule. What Kronos didn’t know what that his wife, Rhea had hidden Zeus, the youngest, so he wouldn’t be swallowed. When Zeus reached adulthood he forced his father to vomit his brothers and then led them in a war against the titans. In the end the young gods won the battle and they drew to see who would rule over what. Poseidon got the ocean, Zeus got the sky which makes him ruler over everything including the gods, and Hades drew the Underworld which suited him well.

 Hades because of his dark and sinister personality most gods and mortals did not like him very much. He was not in spite of this an evil god although he was stern, cruel, and unpitying, he was still honest. His identifying belongings included the famed helmet of darkness, given to him by the Cyclopes in the war against the Titans, which made anyone who wore it invisible. Hades was known to from time to time lend his helmet of invisibility to both gods and men such as Perseus.

There is only one tale told about Hades being merciful. It was when Orpheus a great player in music, went to the underworld to get back his wife, Eurydice which had been bitten by a snake and had died instantly. Since Hades was touched by Orpheus’s skill in music he allowed Orpheus to take Eurydice to the land of the living with only one condition which was that until they reach the surface Orpheus was not allowed to look back to know if she was behind him. Orpheus agreed but he thought that Hades had tricked him and given him the wrong soul so he glanced behind him, which breaking his promise to Hades and he lost Eurydice again to the Underworld.

Another tale of Hades includes Heracles (Hercules) in his final labor of the thirteen he had to do which was to capture Cerberus. First, Heracles went to Eleusis to be introduced to the Eleusinian mysteries. Heracles did this to release himself of guilt for killing the centaurs to learn how to enter and exit the underworld alive. He found the entrance to the underworld at Taenarum and then Athena and Hermes helped him through and back from the underworld. Heracles asked Hades for permission to take Cerberus, the three headed dog, out of the underworld. Hades agreed as long as Heracles didn’t harm Cerberus on his way out.