Hades

Hades was the god of the underworld, the place where souls went after death. He was a brother of Zeus and Poseidon. Even though he sounds scary, he was not evil. He just had the job of looking after the dead.

The Underworld

Hades' kingdom was deep below the earth. A river called the Styx separated it from the world above. A ferryman named Charon took souls across the river. A three-headed dog named Cerberus guarded the gates to keep the dead from escaping.

Hades and His Helmet

Hades owned a special helmet that made him invisible. The Cyclopes made it for him during the war against the Titans. He rarely visited Mount Olympus because he preferred his dark kingdom. He was also the god of all the riches found underground, like gold and gems.

Fun Facts

• Cerberus, Hades' guard dog, had three heads and a snake for a tail.
• The name 'Hades' means 'the unseen one' in ancient Greek.
• Hades owned a magical helmet that could make anyone invisible.

Did You Know?

The ancient Greeks were so afraid of Hades that they often avoided saying his name. Instead, they called him Pluto, which means 'the wealthy one,' because he ruled over underground riches!