Hades, the King of the Underworld, was one of the most important Gods to the world according to Greek mythology. With that said, he rarely appeared in the mythos and his few appearances barely show his significance to the world. Why was Hades so important in Greek mythology?
The King of the Underworld was important because he brought the concept of the “other world” to the world of the living. Without him, there would be no place for the dead to rest and they would floor the living world. He was also partially associated with good and evil.
Though some may argue that Zeus was the most important God according to Greek mythology, many also believed that Hades was equally important as well due to his role. Without the existence of Hades, the world might fall into a catastrophic event causing the end of life as we know it.
The Significance of Hades
Hades isn’t as important in the stories of Greek mythology as he rarely ever appeared within the mythos at all. In his rare appearances, his stories only showcase his personality and even the explanation of something fundamental such as the changing of seasons.
The greatest show of Hades’ significance in Greek mythology was his participation in the Great Titanomachy. He was one of the main forces of the Olympians and was responsible for freeing the Cyclops, turning the tide of the war.
His importance to the actual Greeks was far more important than the stories would tell. Hades wasn’t the God of Death as many would believe, that was a title shared by his daughter, Melinoe, and Thanatos, the twin brother of the God of Sleep, Hypnos.
People believed that Hades controlled their fate but in actuality, Hades only governed those who had died and didn’t decide who would be chosen. He made sure that the dead had a place to stay so that they wouldn’t dwell in the Underworld.
The Greeks prayed to Hades very often, providing him with sacrifices to gain his favor. This was because, upon death, Hades will decide where the souls of the damned will go.
Heaven and Hell in Greek mythology were all under his control and he alone judges who would go where. This also explains why the concept of good and evil are closely related to Hades as well.
The King of the Underworld appointed Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aeacus as his judges of the dead but he will always get the final say in where they go. Elysium was a paradise for the dead and everyone wanted to spend their afterlife there.
Unfortunately for them, Hades was a very just God and only gave that privilege to those that he deemed deserving.
What Would Happen If Hades Never Existed?
The world would be catastrophic if the King of the Underworld never existed in the first place. We don’t know for sure if the Great Titanomachy could have been won without him. However, his role after the war played a very big part in the safety of the living world.
Without Hades, there would be no concept of the “other world”. The souls of the dead would have no place to stay and be forced to dwell in the world of the living forever. This was one of the reasons why death didn’t exist during the rule of the Titans.
The world was huge but it had a limited capacity to how many inhabitants it could hold. Not to mention the fact that resources were scarce and without death, people would need to start fighting among each other for it.
Also, not every man was equal and some could only be punished after death. Hades judged the dead and those who are evil will face eternal punishment in the vicinity of his rule. Without Hades, the wicked would be allowed to roam around freely, causing the misery of others.
There was also a responsibility shared among Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades but the King of the Underworld definitely played a more significant role than the other two. Their father, Cronus, who they fought to gain control over the cosmos resided in Tartarus.
This realm was far below the Underworld which meant that if Cronus were to escape from it, he would have to pass through Hades’ realm first. Knowing that Hades was more serious about this role as a God and his responsibility towards the world, Cronus would have a hard time leaving.
Many thought that Hades was bitter about his rule over the Underworld, but that was far from true.
Conclusion
Hades was a very important figure according to Greek mythology as he was responsible for governing the souls of the dead. Without him, the dead would be allowed to roam around the world causing resources to become scarce.
Not only that, but Hades made sure that those who were evil during their life was punished after their death as well. He is closely related to the concept of good and evil for that reason alone and the wicked should be punished for their deeds.
Many give Hades a bad wrap because of his association with the dead. What they don’t know was that Hades was one of the more responsible God in the Greek Pantheon, even more so than his brother, the King of the Gods, Zeus.
