King of Underworld-Chapter 178

Known as "Pluto’s grace," mint was used to mask the scent of corpses and as a medicinal herb.

Hades’ divine roles are extensive. Thanks to his possession of the Cornucopia (Horn of Plenty), he was also revered as the King of Wealth.

Coupled with his role as the judge of souls in the afterlife, Hades embodies both justice and mercy.

Despite his association with the unsettling concept of the Underworld, belief in Hades has endured through the ages.

The Underworld was perceived as a realm entirely severed from the mortal world, and Hades’ authority as its ruler was unparalleled.

Even Zeus, the King of the Gods, respected Hades’ vast responsibilities, which included overseeing both the Underworld and Tartarus, and refrained from interfering in his domain.

3. Status and Combat Strength

"As soon as the King of the Underworld donned his helmet, he vanished completely from Typhon’s sight, even Hermes, the fastest among the Olympians, unable to track him."

—Iliad (Plutos Translation 18. 267–268)

"You have earned the right to stand before the heavens."

—Uranus (Historical records of the Gigantomachy, Plutos Translation, 2024)

"Given his current power, I daresay he’s stronger than Poseidon."

—Zeus (Iliad. 35. 562–563)

Hades is regarded as the second strongest Olympian, surpassed only by Zeus.

To the ancient Greeks, the Underworld was as mysterious and terrifying as the endless depths of the ocean or Zeus’ thunderbolts.

Early works such as The Iliad depict Zeus as the strongest of the gods. However, this comparison excludes his two brothers, Poseidon and Hades.

When Poseidon once rebelled against Zeus, he claimed that involving Hades would guarantee victory, implying that the two combined could overpower Zeus.

Even with only the dominion of the Underworld, Hades held significant prestige. Over time, as his divine roles expanded to include justice and mercy, his status rose even higher.

This elevated perception contributed to the belief that Hades surpassed Poseidon, evident in myths where Poseidon often deferred to him.

(As the King of Justice and Mercy, Hades often held the moral high ground, which further established his authority, even over Zeus at times.)

It is suggested that Hades, like Zeus, could manipulate minor fates but refrained from altering grand destinies, such as the Trojan War.

During the Gigantomachy, when Cronus possessed the body of a Gigante near Thebes, Hades personally intervened to confront his father, reinforcing the belief that even time itself could not escape death.

Hades also clashed with Uranus, the primordial god of the heavens, while seeking Nyx’s cooperation during the Gigantomachy.

Despite being struck by Uranus’ stellar winds, Hades withstood the attack and ensured the safe return of his Pegasus to the ground.

Uranus acknowledged Hades’ strength with the statement, "You have earned the right to stand before the heavens."

Other notable feats include subduing Charybdis, the sea deity capable of withstanding Zeus’ lightning, by summoning a black pillar of destruction, ending her reign of terror.

3.1. Weapons

Hades’ primary weapons include the Kynee (Helmet of Invisibility), the Bident (a two-pronged spear), and the Stygian Blade, a gift from the goddess Styx.

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The Kynee, a gift from the Cyclopes brothers, allowed Hades to vanish completely, even from the sight of Cronus and Typhon, during the Titanomachy and Gigantomachy.

The Bident, crafted by Hephaestus, was imbued with the ability to return to Hades’ hand no matter how far it was thrown.

Though Hades once lamented not having a weapon like Zeus’ lightning bolt or Poseidon’s trident, he grew to cherish the Bident after receiving it.

The Stygian Blade was forged with the waters of the Styx and gifted to Hades by the goddess Styx herself.

This dark, chilling blade later became a symbol of his proposal when he transformed it into a ring to present to Styx.

4. Relationships with Other Gods

Hades married Styx, Lethe (goddess of forgetfulness), and Persephone (goddess of spring and seeds).

His sole consort was Minthe, the goddess of mint.

Even Hera, known for her disdain of infidelity, did not criticize Hades for having three wives.

This was likely because all three loved him sincerely and supported one another.

Hades was respected by the other gods for his fairness and mercy. However, when Olympian gods committed grave wrongs, they were often punished by being sent to work in the Underworld.

Records show that over half of the Olympians faced this punishment at some point, leading to significant improvements in their behavior.

The title of King of Justice was given to Hades after Dike, the goddess of justice, requested his help.

Hades’ relationship with Persephone, often misunderstood as a forced marriage, is clarified in texts like The Iliad. Persephone deliberately ate the pomegranate seeds to stay with Hades, who had saved her from a Gigante attack.

Hades also maintained amicable relations with primordial gods such as Nyx and Tartarus, while Uranus, though initially hostile, ultimately respected Hades’ strength.