Hades, God of the Underworld

Hades is the “most hated” of all the gods, according to Greek sources. But who is this god? What did he represent, and what was his cult activity like? In this video, we take a deep dive into Hades’ name, mythology, worship, and representation in medieval and modern times. Thanks for watching!

Profiles of Greco-Roman deities (playlist): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs9E8aWmIrn_tbCWJgSZNP5wZGs3KUOyH

Deep Dive on Persephone: https://youtu.be/_UKeexoZgo8

Greco-Roman Underworld Pt. 1: https://youtu.be/qN3hPms4dgI
Pt. 2: https://youtu.be/dfgTBDmNjKc

Article on Grief Practices by Elyse Welles: https://wildhunt.org/2023/11/mourning-practices-need-a-comeback-solutions-for-modern-societys-difficulties-in-processing-grief.html

Below are English translations for the primary sources that talk about Hades.

Primary Sources for Hades (general):
Hesiod, Theogony Translation from Purdue University: https://users.pfw.edu/flemingd/Hesiod%20Theogony.pdf

Plato, Cratylus Translation (see 403a-404b – note: the translation used in the video is my own, not this one): http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0172%3Atext%3DCrat.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cratylus-Hackett-Classics-Plato/dp/0872204162

Orphic Hymns (Hymn to Hades is #17): https://www.theoi.com/Text/OrphicHymns1.html

(for the verb tartaroo) New Testament, 2 Peter 2: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Peter%202&version=NIV

Primary Sources for the abduction of Persephone (CW || SA) :
Homeric Hymn to Demeter: https://chs.harvard.edu/primary-source/homeric-hymn-to-demeter-sb/

Ovid, Fasti 4: https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/OvidFastiBkFour.php

Ovid, Metamorphoses 5: https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/Metamorph5.php

Claudian, De Raptu Proserpinae: https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Claudian/De_Raptu_Proserpinae/1*.html

Primary Sources for Orpheus and Eurydice:
Ovid, Metamorphoses 10: https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/Metamorph10.php

Vergil, Georgics 4: https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/VirgilGeorgicsIV.php

Images:
Disney’s Hades (from “Hercules” 1997): https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Hades

Disney’s Hades and Hercules (from “Hercules” 1997): https://medium.com/pinkerness/how-a-mad-killer-became-a-disney-hero-700e7002c14a

Disney’s Cerberus (from “Hercules” 1997): https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Cerberus

Disney’s river of souls (from “Hercules” 1997): https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Hades

Hadestown, North American tour 2023: https://www.saratogian.com/2023/03/02/hadestown-visits-capital-region/

Patrick Page as Hades, from Hadestown 2019: https://apnews.com/article/37e665b47da54552a2a2268e93d0436b

All other images are from Wikimedia Commons unless otherwise specified in the video.
Stock video from Envato Elements.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:44 Identifying Hades
09:17 Family Tree / Origins
13:38 Personality
16:09 Cratylus Passage (Plato)
21:20 Hades, Plouton, Mystery Cults
22:29 Art and Iconography
23:15 Temples, Sacrifices, Cult Activity
29:05 Abduction of Persephone
33:40 Orpheus and Eurydice
35:30 Reception
40:42 Modern Practice and Astrology
43:35 Analysis

Theme music: “Descent from the Olympos Pentatonic.” (original)

Website: www.hearthofhaemonia.com 
IG: @hearthofhaemonia
Contact: [email protected]

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