Zeus’ lightning is a single-pronged weapon, while Poseidon carries the three-pronged trident. The godly brothers’ weapons are their symbols and a progression of who comes first. There’s no need for weapons in the Underworld, but its king does. Hades wields a two-pronged spear called Aegis. One thing’s for sure, the King of the Underworld doesn’t tolerate drama. In fact, he only did his job and whatever was necessary. He didn’t join Hera’s plan to overthrow Zeus, nor did he take sides during the Trojan War. But even so, he’s fair and impartial with everything that’s happening in Olympus. Greek mythology paints Hades as a fearsome god due to his association with death and the afterlife. Read also: 17 Captivating Facts About John Milnor He’s a fair and impartial god, so they say. Zeus took the sky, Poseidon got the seas, and Hades ended up with the Underworld. The brothers drew lots, probably using the stick method. The gods were practical in deciding who will rule which. The gods gave him the Underworld to rule.Īfter defeating the Titans, the gods realized that the world was too big to rule. Meanwhile, Hera the goddess of marriage became the Queen of Olympus. His eldest sister Hestia is the protector of the home and Demeter is the goddess of agriculture. Hades’ sisters are goddesses in their own right. It was the men who took on the fight, but it doesn’t mean the women were weak. They defeated their father and imprisoned the remaining Titans in Tartarus. Hades used the Cap of Invisibility to steal their father’s weapons, Poseidon attacked him with his trident, and Zeus struck the Titan with lightning. The Cyclops gave weapons to the new gods. Cronos’ sons led the Olympians and a few Titans against their father. It took the Olympians 10 years before they gained the upper hand against the Titans. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades defeated their parents’ generation of gods. In fact, they avoid saying his name because they fear dying. The god of the Underworld’s name has the same chilling effect to Ancient Greeks. “He Who Must Not Be Named” and “You-Know-Who” is Lord Voldemort’s name replacements in Harry Potter when people are too scared to say his name. Fear of death caused the Ancient Greeks to avoid saying his name. other translations of his surname are Polydectes, Clymenus, and Pankoitēs. Hades is possibly the exception, as articles revealed his surname is Polydegmon or “the one who receives many,” a little similar to his popular epithet. Norse deities have “-son (son of)” or “-dottir (daughter of)” in theirs, Greek and Roman gods don’t. There’s an online debate whether deities have surnames. Read also: 10 Mindblowing Facts About Boethius Hades bears the surname Polydegmon. His alternative names Zeus Eubuleus (good counsel) and Zeus Meilichios (easy-to-be-entreated) came from Orphic hymns and he both Hades’ alternative names.

This is probably the reason why Hades was sometimes called “the second Zeus.” Hades is just as powerful as his brothers, but his youngest brother took the title of being the chief Olympian god.

Some of his alternative names start with Zeus. Some of his other epithets are Plouton (the rich one), Clymenus (notorious), and Hesperos Theos (god of death and darkness). It’s not a surprise that the epithet “god of wealth” fits Hades since everything within his realm is his.

Though the Earth is abundant with wealth, there’s a lot more undiscovered underneath it. Photo from: Wikimedia Commons His most popular epithet is the “god of wealth.” The most common meaning behind his name is “the unseen one,” and in some translations “his knowledge of all noble things.”īritish classical scholar Martin Litchfield West argued that the name Hades’ original meaning is “the one who presides over death,” a fitting name for the god of the Underworld. His name means many things, whether it comes with the job or not. Hades means “the one who presides over death.”

Hades greek name and roman name