Hades (Pluto) God of the Underworld  Two palaces: one in Olympus & a black one in the bowels of the Earth  Married to Persephone  Weapon: Invisibility Hat   Controlled all earth phenomena, including gemstones (wealth), agricultural abundance, and death Entering the Underworld

 Greek men and women were buried with coins in their mouths.  The task of bringing the newly dead to the Underworld belonged to Thanatos (Death).  The dead paid the ferryman Charon with their coins to ferry them across the River Styx (the river of unbreakable oaths) to the Underworld.  Those buried without coins (i.e. dishonorably) were condemned to live in purgatory on the banks of the river for all eternity.  The gates to the Underworld were guarded by a three-headed dog called Cerberus. No one alive could enter, and no one dead could leave, or they would face Cerberus’s wrath.

The After-Life

 Upon arrival in the Underworld, souls stand before three judges, who pass sentence on the dead.  The very evil are sent to everlasting torment.  The very good are sent to the Elysian Fields, where they can choose to be re-born.  If you reach Elysian Fields three times in three lives, you can progress to the Isles of the Blessed.  The rest are sent to the Fields of Asphodel – a wasteland inhabited by wandering spirits  The Erinyes (Furies) pursued sinners on earth & punished evildoers in the Underworld. The waists of the Erinyes were entwined with serpents and their eyes dripped with blood. They have wings. Fun Facts

 J.K. Rowling was inspired by many myths when she penned the Harry Potter series.  As we progress, see who you recognize! Hera (Juno) Queen of the Gods  Married to Zeus  Goddess of marriage,  Goddess of fertility (obviously) of legitimate children, women in all stages of life, & motherhood  Hates all Zeus’s other partners and illegitimate children, and pursues them relentlessly, but also intensely loyal to all who are unjustly persecuted.  Animal: Peacock  Symbol: Pomegranate

Aphrodite (Venus) Goddess of Love & Beauty

 Arose from the sea as a fully grown adult  Married to Hephaestus, but usually paired in an adulterous affair with Ares  Weapon: Magic girdle (belt) that makes her even more irresistible Birth of Athena

 Zeus lay with the a Titan called Metis, who bore all the wisdom of the world within her. She became pregnant.  A prophecy was uttered that Metis’s daughter would bear a son who would de-throne Zeus.  Terrified, Zeus swallowed Metis whole.  Nine months later, he developed an unbearable pain in his head. He begged Hephaestus to split his head with an axe. Athena sprang forth, fully grown.