Hades: Greek god of the Underworld and god of the dead
Hades is the Greek God of the Underworld and King of the Underworld. He is the ruler of the dead and his domain is the Underworld. His name is sometimes thought to be “the Unseen One.” Hades is not the God of death and He doesn’t bring about death (the Greek god of death is Thanatos). He just rules the Underworld and is a stern ruler who oversees the trial and punishment of wicked souls. He presided over funeral rites and defended the right of the dead to due burial.
Hades is also the god of hidden wealth of the earth. He rules over the wealth from the soil and the mined wealth of gold, silver, and other metals. His Roman counterpart, Pluto, is the god of wealth because diamonds and jewels come from the underground.
The ancient people did not worship Hades and they actually feared Him and were even afraid to say his name. There is evidence of offerings being left in at one of Hades’ sacred sites in Ellis, where a priest left offerings in a temple once a year. It’s highly debated among scholars and archaeologists whether Hades was venerated or celebrated at the Eleusinian mysteries, which were performed for Hades’ wife, Persephone and her mother, Demeter.
Hades wanted a bride and asked Zeus to grant him one of his daughters. Zeus offered Persephone, the daughter of Demeter. But since he knew they would oppose to a marriage, he assented to the abduction of Persephone. There are others who believe that Persephone chose to go with Hades and followed him into the world to discover a new place and escape from her overprotective mother. It’s up to the practitioner what myth they prefer or believe in. Once Demeter found that Persephone was gone, she was furious and refused to care for the crops which caused a great winter to befall the earth. Zeus decided to get Persephone from the Underworld and reunite her with her mother, but they found out that Persephone ate 6 seeds, which meant she had to stay in the Underworld for 6 months of the year and the other 6 months, she’ll be with Demeter.
Most notable epithets associated with Hades:
Hades has many epithets associated with them and these are the most popular or common ones:
☆ Hades Chthonius - Hades of the Underworld
☆ Hades Pasiánax - Hades, the Universal King
☆ Hades Adesius - Hades of the Grave
☆ Hades Orkos/Orcus - Hades of Oaths, Hades, the Avenger of the Perjured
☆ Hades Moiragetes - Hades, Guide of the Fates
☆ Hades Ploutos - Hades of Wealth
☆ Hades Hagesilaos - Hades, Leader of the People
☆ Hades Aidis - Hades, the Unseen
☆ Hades Zefs Khthonios - Hades, Zeus of the Underworld
☆ Hades Polydemenos - Hades, He Who Welcomes All
☆ Niger Deus - Hades, the Black God || Hades of the Infernal Regions
☆ Hades Larthy Tytiral (Etrurian) - Hades, Sovereign of Tartarus
☆ Hades Khamaizilos Dios - Hades of the Earth
☆ Hades Eubuleus - Hades of Good Counsel || Hades, the Consoler
Symbols and signs associated with Hades:
☀︎ Pomegranate: His sacred fruit
☀︎ Orchard: an orchard of pomegranate trees grew beside the Underworld palace of the King of the Dead. They were the source of the fruit that trapped Persephone in the Underworld
☀︎ Helm of Darkness: Hades’s helmet made the person wearing the helm invisible
☀︎ Scepter: a symbol of Hades that he’s often depicted having
☀︎ Bident: A two-pronged weapon associate with Hades
☀︎ Cerberus: Hades’s three-headed dog who is also the guardian of the Underworld
☀︎ Screech owl: Hades’s sacred animal
☀︎ Cypress: symbol of Hades
☀︎ Narcissus: symbol of Hades
☀︎ White poplar: symbol of Hades no
☀︎ Asphodel flowers: symbol of Hades
☀︎ Serpents: symbol of Hades
☀︎ Cornucopia: symbol of Hades
☀︎ Black horses: the horses that pull Hades’s chariot
☀︎ Black rams: known as Hades’s favorite sacrifice
☀︎ Cattle: King Hades had a herd of immortal sable-black cattle that roamed the asphodel fields and were cared for by the herdsman Menoites
☀︎ Volcanic areas: Hades was associated with areas with steam vents and sulfurous vapors
☀︎ Keys: the gates of Hades were securely locked to prevent the escape of souls and Hades, or his doorman, Aiakos, kept the golden keys
☀︎ The colors black, dark grey, light gray, dark purple, silver, and dark blue
Offerings to give to Hades:
★ Any stones (preferably jagged or black/dark) or metals
★ Fruits like pomegranates and apples
★ Herbs like mint, rosemary, and thyme
★ Crystals like hematite, jet, black obsidian, black tourmaline, and onyx
★ Ethically sourced animal bones
★ Black and/or silver candles
★ Alcohol (red wine, bourbon, or strong whiskey are some of the best)
★ Photos of Cerebus or depictions/art of him
Devotional activities to do for Hades:
✮ Visit your local graveyard and maybe help to clean it up
✮ Learn about funerary rites across different cultures and backgrounds
✮ Learn about how gravestones are made
✮ Clean graves (properly and with permission)
✮ Leave flowers or coins on old graves
✮ Assist bereaved people (with food, money, and company)
✮ Do spirit work or work with the dead/do mediumship
✮ Learn about death magic
✮ Do money or abundance workings or spells
✮ Make chocolate cake or brownies for him
✮ Honor his wife (Persephone) and his children
✮ Volunteer at a retirement home
✮ Wear black, purple, and silver
✮ Spend time with pets (especially with dogs)
✮ Pour liquid offerings onto the ground
✮ Donate to those who can’t afford to hold a funeral
✮ Donate to suicide prevention organizations
✮ Donate dog food, toys, or blankets to animal shelters
✮ Keep a budget and save money/spend it wisely
Being able to withstand any obstacles you face and being resilient, perseverance, the strength to stand alone, being able to cope with being ostracized or misunderstood, accepting that life and nature has its cycles, being able to accept change, being able to maintain balance and be disciplined, leading with example and being a fair and honorable leader, the importance of duty and responsibility, how to maintain abundance and stability, to better understand death and the afterlife
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