Hades
The god Hades, son of Cronus and Rhea, received the Underworld for his realm, when his brother gods, Zeus and Poseidon, received dominion of the sky and sea.
The Cyclops gave Hades the helmet of invisibility to help in the gods' battle with the Titans. Thus, the name Hades means "The Invisible." The realm he rules over is also called Hades.
Hades is the enemy of all life, gods, and men. Since nothing will sway him, he is rarely worshiped.
Sometimes a milder form of Hades, Pluto, is worshiped as the god of wealth, since the wealth of the earth comes from what lies below.
The attributes of Hades include his watchdog Cerberus, the key to the Underworld, and sometimes a cornucopia or a two-pronged pick-axe. The cypress and narcissus are plants sacred to him. Sometimes black sheep were offered to him in sacrifice.
The most familiar myth about Hades is the story of the abduction of Persephone by Hades.
Persephone
Persephone was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. While she was playing, Persephone was abducted by Hades who had come for her in a chariot. He quickly and secretly dragged her down to his kingdom, where she stayed unwillingly, refusing to eat. Finally, after Persephone's mother Demeter persuaded Zeus to make Hades return her daughter to her, Persephone relaxed and ate a bit (a few pomegranate seeds). Because of this, Persephone was compelled to spend part of her life there with Hades. During this time, Demeter mourns, and so, Earth experiences winter. When Persephone returns, it becomes spring. This story lies behind the Eleusinian mysteries.
Persephone is often called kore, the maiden. She is also called the queen of the Underworld. Theseus was involved in an attempt to steal Persephone from the Underworld.
