Hades in popular culture
| Hades |
Hades with Cerberus (Heraklion Archaeological Museum) |
King of the underworld
God of the Dead and Riches |
| Abode |
Underworld |
| Symbol |
Cerberus, Cap of invisibility, or Helm of Darkness, Cypress, Narcissus and Key of Hades |
| Consort |
Persephone |
| Parents |
Cronus and Rhea |
| Siblings |
Poseidon, Demeter, Hestia, Hera, Zeus |
| Children |
Macaria, Melinoe, Zagreus and Plutus |
| Roman equivalent |
Pluto, Dis Pater, Orcus |
The mythological Greek deity Hades often appears in popular culture.
Despite his appearances in Greek mythology as being largely impartial, Hades is often portrayed in fiction as a villain.
Film
In 2010, Hades has been in both the movies Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief played by Steve Coogan, and the remake of Clash of the Titans played by Ralph Fiennes. He is depicted as an antagonistic in both but only evil in the latter.
Television
In the two television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess, Hades was a recurring character, most frequently played by Erik Thomson, although Mark Ferguson and Stephen Lovatt have also played the part. In both series, he was depicted as being overworked and understaffed.
On two episodes of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Persephone was played by Andrea Croton, while Michael Hurst portrayed Charon as a recurring character on both series. The ruler of the Underworld was also the subject of episode 3 of Clash of the Gods.
Music
Anaïs Mitchell's folk opera Hadestown presents Hades as the boss of a post-apocalyptic Depression-era company town. The 2010 recording features Greg Brown performing the deep-voiced part of Hades.
Disney
Main article:
Hades (Disney)In the Disney 1997 film Hercules, Hades appears as the primary antagonist. Unlike the mythological Hades, this version is a fast-talking, evil deity; a combination of Satan and a dodgy car salesman. He plans to overthrow Zeus and rule the Universe. The character was voiced by James Woods.
Saint Seiya
In Saint Seiya, Hades serves as the primary antagonist in the last story arc of the series. Hades appears as the ruler of the Underworld (冥界, Meikai?) and old enemy of Athena. He wishes to wipe out humanity, turning the Earth into a desolate wasteland. He despises the human beings, who are each time more ungrateful towards the gods.
Gaming
- In the God of War video game series, Hades originally resembled a demon more than a man (God of War). His appearance is changed in God of War II (and continues this way) to being overweight, having a grotesque, scarred body, a fiery helmet, spike like growths protruding from his back, and he has clawed weapons attached to chains called the Claws of Hades. In the original God of War (2005), he provides Kratos (the player) with a new magic spell, the Army of Hades. He briefly appears at the end of God of War II (2007) overlooking Mt. Olympus as Kratos leads the Titans in an assault on Mt. Olympus. He is a boss in God of War III (2010) and is killed by Kratos, causing the spirits of the Underworld to roam free and Kratos taking his weapons as his own. In God of War: Chains of Olympus (2008), there is an after-game challenge mode named after him, the Challenge of Hades. The Challenge of Hades is also present in the original God of War but is an in-game challenge of Pandora's Temple and not an after-game challenge.
- Hades can also be worshipped in Zeus: Master of Olympus providing silver and cerberus to the city.
- Hades is the primary antogonist in the Immortal Throne expansion pack of Titan Quest
- Hades also appears in the Kingdom Hearts series in the world Olympus Coliseum, based on the Disney movie Hercules. His personality is identical to the movie and James Woods reprises his role as Hades.
Literature
- He appears in the popular series Percy Jackson and the Olympians. In the first book, the Lightning Thief he is depicted as the villain; near the end, however, it is shown that he isn't. He also appears in The Last Olympian, where he shows up with an army of zombies to help defeat Kronos in the Battle of Manhattan. He is the father of Nico di Angelo.
- In John C. Wright's Titans of Chaos, he, off-stage, is one of the factions who must be appeased about how the children are kept; furthermore, he puts forward his wife's claim to the throne of Olympus after Zeus's death. He is referred to as "Unseen One" and "Lord Dis".[1]
- In Poul Anderson's retelling of Orpheus, "Goat Song", the computer SUM preserves all dead humans for a foretold resurrection and is the Hades figure he must persuade to bring his dead love back to life.[2]
- Roberta Gellis's Dazzling Brightness retells the story of Hades and Persephone.
- He appears in the comic book series God of War; a comic book series that spans from the video game franchise.
- He appears in The Goddess Test under the name of Henry, who is looking for a new wife to rule with him in the Underworld after Persephone left him.
- Hades is a central, sympathetic character in the Fantasy novel The Hunter of the Dead by Maria Aragon, published in 2009. The novel explores his relationship with Persephone and with other deities aside from the Olympians.
See also
List of Greek mythological figures
References