Top Ten Tuesday: Reasons Why Hades Deserves More Retellings

By: Stephanie Wyatt

Happy Tuesday! I love Mythology. The second I find out a story is based in any sort of mythology, it goes on my TBR list. That being said, I am obsessed with Hades. I love the different approaches to the god of the dead, and I think he deserves more love. Here are my top ten reasons why Hades is the best.

1. He literally drew the short straw

Some media likes to paint Hades as a bad guy who holds a grudge against the other gods of Olympus for making him the babysitter of the dead. Zues, Posideon, and Hades drew straws, and Hades drew the short straw. You would be bitter too if you couldn’t party with the rest of your family because of a chance.

2. Death is complex

Death is complicated. This leaves Hades the opportunity to make all sorts of decisions as ruler of the Underworld, which lets him be a morally grey character, and those are always fun to see.

3. He has a dog

I personally love seeing morally grey characters with pets. They have to wrestle with terrible things all day. Hades has a three-headed dog to drown you in love. Can you imagine the three heads of Cerberus playing with a giant tree or taking the boat from the River Styx and wanting someone to throw it in a game of fetch? It would be equal parts terrifying and adorable.

4. The Underworld has three different sections to explore

The Underworld is huge. I feel like you could have a book about each place and what it’s like to live there. Tartarus is full of horrible punishments. I would read a collection of stories about each person in Tartarus and how they ended up there and how Hades decided their fate.

5. His relationship with the Gods on Olympus

The Greek gods are so messy, and I always picture Hades as the sibling that keeps everything together while everyone else parties because he actually has to work. It’s like having a front row seat to the messiest reality show.

6. Persephone

Persephone is the Greek goddess of spring. She eats pomegranate seeds and gets an entire kingdom and a faithful husband. She’s every sheltered child’s hero. The myth isn’t exactly happy, but I blame Demeter and Zeus. I fully support Demeter being a villain in the most retellings.

7. The Fates

The Fates know everything. If I were Hades, I would befriend the Fates and get the dirt on everybody to use as blackmail.

8. He’s reasonable

He’s willing to let people barter for their loved ones. He usually agrees. He only punishes those who trick him and try to steal his wife.

9. He’s actually a war hero.

He was an instrumental part in the war against the Titans, and Zeus considers them equals.

10. He’s also the god of the hidden wealth of the earth

He is more than the god of the dead. He’s also the god of precious metals and fertile soil.

Have you read any good Hades retellings? What character do you wish had more books about them and why? Let us know in the comments!