Times of the Ancient Greeks

Teaching Project

In the times of the ancient Greeks, there was much prosperity and a great culture. Along with this came great Greek mythology. Stories of the giant Titans, and gods such as Zues, Posiedon, and Hades, were passed through generation to generation. These myths were what made up this rich culture. In this presentation, I have chosen Hades god of the underworld as the topic. The reason being is that most people do not discuss this god in their conversations. This was an essential god, without him the world would not work in correct cycle. This is no ordinary story, which has many unexpected events and changes. I will go in depth with this legend, taking into account that how Hades came to be what he was and as far as future developments that happened in his life.

To begin with Hades has many names, Ruler of the Sleeping and the Dead, The Invisible One or The Unseen, Good Counselor. These names go along with the several attributes he has. Hades, like his brothers and sisters, were swallowed at birth by their father, the Titan ruler Cronus, to prevent the prophecy that one of his children would grow up to replace him on the throne. Years later his younger brother Zeus made Cronus vomit up his siblings, and then took them in a battle to overtake the Titans. The Gods went to Tartarus, to release the Cyclopes. In return the Cyclopes made extravagant weapons as gifts for the gods. Hades received a helmet that made him invisible giving him that characteristic. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades overtook their father and then they were the new rulers of the world.

With the battle being over the gods drew lots, Poseidon received the oceans, Zeus the sky, and Hades drew the Underworld. Hades spent little time with his Olympian brothers and sisters, so being alone in the Underworld suited him. Living in the underworld the ruler was bound to get lonely so he came across the next chapter and he decided to get a wife. The goddess Persephone caught Hades eye, and he was bound to have her as his queen. The young Persephone would bring a some light down to the depths of the underworld. Hades goes to his brother Zeus and asks for his approval of the marriage. Zeus agrees and closes an eye, as Hades makes a trap to seduce the young goddess to the underworld. She stooped to pluck a narcissus on a beautiful sunny day, and as soon as she reached over to grab the flower the earth opened and Persephone fell into the hands of Hades.

In the beginning Persephone was upset and lonely missing the life she had on the surface. She missed her mother as well. But with time she grew to love the depths and fell in love with Hades and the thought of being queen of the underworld. Persephone's mother Demeter was so upset she cast famine upon the people of the world. Only with her return would she bring life back to the earth. Hermes was sent by Zeus to bring back Persephone from the underworld. Before being brought back Hades offered Persephone a pomegranate, eating this fruit would not allow Persephone from leaving for good. So there was a compromise, that