Hades — the Greek God who really isn’t that bad

GREEK MYTHOLOGY

Hades, the Greek god of the Underworld, finds himself consistently misrepresented in modern adaptations like — Clash of the Titans, Disney’s Hercules, or the Percy Jackson movie. Hades is consistently casted as the antagonist, depicting the God of the Dead as a mischievous troublemaker, hatching evil plans and sowing chaos. When people think of Hades, they connect him to the Greek version of the Devil. However, within the original Greek mythological story, Hades emerges as a surprisingly peaceful and impartial deity, rarely causing disturbances.

Hades, written as “᾽Αιδης” in Ancient Greek, stems from the ancient term meaning “unseen.” This initial detail sets the stage for Hades’ somewhat overlooked narrative. The significance of the name is fitting, as Hades often operated in the shadows, his efforts going unnoticed. Initially, Hades played a crucial role in assisting his younger brothers, Zeus and Poseidon, in overthrowing the monstrous Titan Kronos during the epic battle for control of the cosmos. As the spoils of victory were divided, Zeus claimed dominion over the sky, Poseidon over the sea, and Hades over the Underworld. Despite some accounts suggesting Hades may have been dissatisfied with this allocation, he never voiced complaints or sought a different role. Hades himself did not choose to rule the underworld —…