The Most Important Greek Mythology Characters Hades Left Out

Roguelike indie game Hades is known for the emphasis it puts on characterizing various figures from Greek mythology. However, there are plenty of other Greek mythology characters missing from the game, and they would have fit right in with Hades‘ formula.

The bulk of the characters that deserve a spot in Hades‘ cast are other gods, both Chthonic (of the Underworld) and Olympian. Among other things, Hades is really about family. Zagreus begins his journey in order to learn about his mother, Persephone. As he does battles, he forms bonds with many of Hades‘ characters and repairs his family’s damaged relationships. Adding characters to expand on Zagreus’ family falls right in line with the game’s core themes.

There’s no shortage of family members who could be included, either. Encyclopaedia Britannica has information on many Ancient Greek figures related to the mythological version of Zagreus and his loved ones. Two of the most obvious choices in Greek mythology’s pantheon are the major Olympians that do not appear in Hades. Much like the other Olympians, Apollo and Hephaestus could grant their own unique boons to Zagreus as he repeatedly escapes the Underworld. Their respective powers of light/healing/music and fire/smithing could even justify boons none of the other gods can give.

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Olympian gods aren’t the only deities left out of Hades’ roster, and family members aren’t the only characters important to Zagreus’ story. Surprisingly, there is one goddess crucial to the original myth of Persephone that the game neglects to include. In the original myth, the goddess Hecate was the only person to witness Hades kidnap Persephone. When Persephone’s mother, Demeter, begins searching for her lost daughter, Hecate helps guide her through the Underworld. Hades does change the original myth, but its interpretation is not far from the original story. It would have been logical for Zagreus to cross paths with Hecate as they both search for Persephone, and the fact that they would presumably be searching on behalf of different factions could add tension and intrigue to their meetings.

Hecate is one of the few Chthonic gods not referenced in any part of Hades‘ story. Strangely, the other unmentioned Chthonic deity, Gaia, is one of the most important in Greek mythology. Gaia, the personification of the Earth, may not have appeared because she is both a place and a person. Like the Greek god Erebus, which Hades presents as merely an alternate realm, Gaia may simply manifest as the Earth itself. Still, Gaia’s active role in the creation of many mythological gods and monsters would justify her appearance. Other formless deities, such as Chaos, make their own appearances in Hades, and Gaia could likewise offer her support and services to Zagreus via her own boons and equipment.

Finally, the most famous of all Greek heroes, Heracles (aka Hercules) shares many parallels with Zagreus, and he is supposedly somewhere in the Underworld during the game. Like Zagreus, Heracles is both partially god and mortal and has battled his way out of the Underworld in the past. The hero Achilles already acts as Zagreus’ mentor, but Heracles has experiences shared with Zagreus that would make him a valuable addition to Hades‘ roster. Unfortunately, Supergiant Games doesn’t plan on making any sequels or DLC for Hades in the near future, so fans will likely never see how the studio would interpret other Greek myths.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica

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Jonah Schuhart
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Jonah Schuhart is a Freelance Writer at Screen Rant. Growing up as the stereotypical gamer, Jonah absorbed everything he could about his favorite video games until adulthood came knocking. He decided to become a games journalist after his dad purchased a subscription to Gameinformer when he was 10 years old. Now, he follows in the footsteps of his early influences, giving his two-cents on the games he loves.

You can also find Jonah on Looper, where he writes about his favorite TV and Movies. Follow him on Twitter @JonahSchuhart, or reach him by email at [email protected]

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