While many people tend to think of Hades as a place of punishment, the fact is that Greek mythology has a completely different application for the term. Hades is understood to be the Greek god who eventually won the right to be named the god of the underworld, and the chief caretaker of the abode of the dead. Here is some background on Hades, and the role he played within the pantheon of Greek gods.

According to the legends of the Greeks, Hades was not originally the ruler of the underworld. Ancient beings known as the Titans were in control of all known creation. However, three brothers challenged their sovereign rule of all things. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades determined that they were to be the rightful rulers of the three main sections of all things, namely the underworld, the sky, and the sea. The three brothers engaged in war with the Titans, eventually defeating them. At this juncture, the victors chose to assume specific areas that each brother would oversee. Hades was the brother who chose the task of overseeing the underworld, and ruling over the spirits of those who had died and crossed over into the next life.

Hades at times has been portrayed as a fearsome figure, designed to strike terror into the hearts of mean. Within this version of Hades, the god is one who is ready to punish the wicked for the lightest infraction, and delights in administering justice that is not tempered with mercy. Often, this concept of Hades was used to bring persons who were involved in activities that were considered on the fringe of acceptable traditions and morals to abandon those practices, and engage in rites that were meant to win the favor of all the gods, including Hades.

At other times, Hades has been portrayed as the merciful and just ruler of the underworld, seeing to the needs of both those dwelling in a state of happiness and paradise, as well as those who have been damned. This concept of Hades is sometimes attributed to reading between the lines in the tales of Greek mythology, especially in instances when the god appears to offer persons a chance to step back and reverse a wrong action taken.

Generally feared but often considered among the most powerful of all the gods, Hades was worshipped by many persons, often with an eye to appeasing the god and ensuring a more pleasant place in the world to come. To this end, many persons established an altar in the home in order to honor Hades, as well as gathering in temples to offer appropriate offerings to the god.