Legends of Greece and Rome
Hades
As Zeus took control of the heavens and Poseidon took control of the seas, Hades took control of the underworld once the Titans had been vanquished. He was not an evil god however. He was just the ruler of a particularly unpleasent place.
Hades was just and fair but strict. He had firm rules which were needed to rule a place such as the underworld. He was usually depicted as a dark figure, shrouded in mystery. He posessed a helmet which could make him invisible which made him all the more unpopular and feared. Even the other gods seemed to have a dislike of Hades as he was the only god who was not welcome on Mount Olympus.
The underworld was made up of four seperate regions. Tartarus was the region which most closely resembled the modern idea of Hell. A place of punishment of the dead for their crimes committed during life. Another region of the underworld was Elysium. This place most closely resembles the modern idea of Heaven. Those who had lead a virtuous life spent their afterlife in this place of eternal happiness, and were able to return to life whenever they chose to.
The third region of the underworld was Asphodel which was blanketed by the pale flowers of the same name. This was a mournful place and was where most of the departed souls resided. The fourth was Erebus where Hades' palace stood. It is said by some that this was the place through which all of the dead must pass through.
Source: 'Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome'
Morgan J. Roberts
