He spent most of the time in his dark realm. Sophocles explained the notion of referring to Hades as Plouton with these words: “the gloomy Hades enriches himself with our sighs and our tears.” Since precious minerals come from under the earth (i.e., the “underworld” ruled by Hades), he was considered to have control of these as well. In addition, he was called Clymenus (“notorious”), Polydegmon (“who receives many”) and perhaps Eubuleus (“good counsel” or “well-intentioned”) all of them were euphemisms for a name that was unsafe to pronounce, which evolved into epithets. Since to many, simply to say the word “Hades” was frightening, euphemisms were pressed into use. Hades, as the god of the dead, was a fearsome figure to those still living in no hurry to meet him, they were reluctant to swear oaths in his name and averted their faces when sacrificing to him. People would sometimes refer to him as “Zeus katachthonios” (Ζεὺς καταχθόνιος), meaning “the Zeus of the Underworld,” by those who felt they had to avoid saying his actual name since he had complete control over the Underworld. Perhaps from fear of even pronouncing his name, around the 5th century BC, the Greeks started referring to Hades as Plouton (Πλούτων, Ploútōn), with a root meaning “wealthy,” considering that from the abode below (i.e., the soil) come riches (e.g., fertile crops, metals and so on). He and his brothers, Zeus and Poseidon, defeated their father’s generation of gods, the Titans, and claimed rulership over the cosmos. He was the eldest son of Cronus and Rhea although he was the last son regurgitated by his father. Hades was the grandson of Uranus, the god of the heavens, and Gaia, the goddess of the Earth.
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