The Judgment of Hades
Ah Zeus, brother, it is good to be here today. I thank
you for considering me to be your apprentice. I have always
admired you, brother, strong, fierce, and great, just as I. It would be
a true honor for me to serve by your side, and I am sure you feel the
same way towards me.
I am not surprised to
be standing before you today. My role as King of the dead,
is
an important one. It is, by no means, an easy job either, brother. I
work hard day after day to keep that place in order. It is a difficult
task to keep the souls down below when they so desperately strive to
get back up, and you know the efforts I have made to keep them there.
Ah, Zeus, do you
remember the trouble we had before I had Charon come to live in
the underworld? The souls of the dead wandered for years and years
before realizing they had to come across the river. Even worse, Zeus,
do
you remember how many souls got through whose bodies were not
buried? Oh, the catastrophe we had in our hands, Zeus!
Oh, but what a brilliant
idea it was of mine to have Charon come down to help monitor the land
and the river leading to the gates. Oh, what chaos we would
have if he was not there to take the properly buried souls across
the river to see Cerberus!
Speaking of Cerberus, his
existence in the underworld was another brilliant idea on my behalf,
brother! I knew that the souls would stop at nothing to return to the
Earth above. Had I not suggested having the three-headed
dog, Cerberus, keep guard of the gates, who knows what troubles
you
would have had on your hands, brother! The souls of the dead would no
doubt
have escaped from the underworld and caused great troubles on the land
above!
Zeus, the land of the dead
would not exist the way it does today if not for me, nor would the land
above. Remember also my contributions to the earth above in helping the
seeds sprout, pushing them up through the land. Remember, Zeus,
it is also I who supplies the mines with gold and silver so that your
men may dig out
the riches, which they in turn use to worship you!
The humans do not see
me like they do the other gods. They respect me more, brother because
they know what I control and what I can do. The humans not only worship
me, but
they fear me as well!
You and I are much alike,
brother Zeus! Our incredible strength and knowledge far surpasses the
others! While you are king of the air and the land above, I
am
king and ruler of the land below! Think of the brilliant things I have
done for the underworld, Zeus, and think what more I could do for the
world above, if I was your apprentice! We would work wonderfully
together-the strongest, most fearful gods known!
Author's Note
The original story of Hades
, King of the Dead, is told from a third person point of
view. The
story does not focus as much on Hades as it does the underworld and the
process souls take in getting there. The original story goes into
detail about how souls are sent to a judgment room after they pass by
Cerberus. It is there that it is decided if the souls were good on
earth, and could
enter the fields of the blessed, or if the souls were bad and would be
sent to
the world of the dead. The original story also discusses the fates
of two kings, Sisyphus and Tantalus, who were dreadfully punished for
their bad
behaviors on earth. I did not include their tales in my re-telling
because their stories are not important for Hades case in
becoming Zeus's apprentice. I also added to the importance of Hades.
The original story of Hades does not state that Hades had anything to
do with the roles of Charon and Cerberus, but for Hades' sake, I had
Hades be the genius behind their idea to have them in the underworld.
Hades' story is important
because this is his chance to tell Zeus about how great he is, which is
stressed
often. I wanted to give Hades a cocky persona in his speech to Zeus.
Hades is a god who is greatly feared by the humans, and with his role
as King of the dead, I think he would have this overly confident
attitude.
Story: Hades, King of the
Dead
Author: Caroline H. and Samuel B.
Harding
Book: Greek Gods, Heroes, and Men
Year Published: 1905
Web Source: Balwdin
Project