Epithets of Hades
I’ve noticed that there aren’t many posts concerning epithets for Hades, and certainly no comprehensive ones, so I thought I’d make one. This is Hellenism focused, so all will be applied to Hades, even though the Latin ones would traditionally be for Pluto. Latin epithets are marked as (L). I translated some of these into more concise titles that convey their implications, and notes are made as necessary. Sources are at the bottom but are not linked so that this will still show in tags. I hope this helps everyone!
Related to his role as ruler of the underworld:
Hades Chthonius - Hades of the Underworld
Hades Polyxenos/Polydegmon/Polysêmantôr Aidonius - Hades, Ruler/Host of Many
Hades Pasiánax - Hades, the Universal King
Hades Adesius - Hades of the Grave
Hades Zefs Khthonios - Hades, Zeus of the Underworld
Hades Larthy Tytiral (Etrurian) - Hades, Sovereign of Tartarus
Hades Ánax - Hades, the King
Hades Polydegmenos - Hades, He Who Welcomes All
Summanus/Manus/Mantus (L) - Hades, Prince of the Dead
Niger Deus (L) - Hades, the Black God || Hades of the Infernal Regions
“Zeus of the Departed”
“The Other Zeus”
Related to his roles concerning death:
Hades Nekrodegmôn - Hades, Receiver of the Dead
Hades Agesilaos - Hades, Who Calls Man To The Underworld
Hades Nekrôn Sôtêr - Hades, Saviour of the Dead
Hades Hesperos Theos - Hades, God of Death and Darkness (for those who believe he and Thanatos are the same deity)
Related to his role as controller of the earth and its resources:
Hades Ploutos - Hades of Wealth
Hades Khamaizilos Dios - Hades of the Earth (“where he likes to be” is implied)
Hades Theôn Khthonios - Hades, the Terrestrial God
Tellumo (L) - Hades, Who Provides to the Creative (denotes creative power of the earth’s resources)
Tellus (L) - Hades, Who Provides for the Productive (denotes productive power of the earth’s resources)
Altor (L) - Hades, Who Nourishes
Other:
Hades Hagesilaos - Hades, Leader of the People
Hades Eubuleus - Hades of Good Counsel || Hades, the Consoler (supposedly references death as the end of sorrows)
Hades Adámastos - Hades, the Unconquerable
Hades Aidis - Hades, the Unseen
Hades Aïdonefs/Aidoneus - Hades, the Singer || Hades of Nightingales || Hades of Sleep || Hades of Light || Hades of Poets || Hades of a Girl
Hades Amenthes (Egyptian) - Hades, Who Gives and Receives
Hades Axiocersus - Hades the Shorn (he was depicted without hair where this was used)
Hades Clymenus - Hades, the Renowned
Hades Euclius/Eucles - Hades of Good Report/the Famous/of Good Fame
Hades Agetes/Hegates - Hades, the Conductor
Hades Moiragetes - Hades, Guide of the Fates
Hades Orkos/Orcus - Hades of Oaths, Hades, the Avenger of the Perjured
Hades Opheius - Hades, the Blind || Hades of Prophecy (as the blind augers of Messenia we’re dedicated to him)
Euchaites - The Beautiful-haired One
Rusor (L) - Hades, to Whom All Things Return
Salutaris Divus (L) - Hades, Restorer of the Dead
Saturnius (L) - Hades, Son of Kronos
Uragus (L) - Hades of Fire
Urgus (L) - Hades, Who Impels
Operatus (L) - Hades, the Concealed
Februus (L) - Hades, To Whom Purification and Sacrifice Is Offered
Hades, the Good and Prudent (not historical, but reflects how he was seen)
Negative (but everything can be twisted sometimes):
Hades Agesander - Hades, Who Carries All Away (this references the Persephone myth; included because it exists but I’m not sure you’d want to use it)
Hades Clotonius - Hades, the Infernal
Hades Stygius - Hades the Hateful
Feralis Deus (L) - Hades, the Cruel God
Hades Agelastus - Hades of Melancholy Countenance
“Hades, the Tearless”
“Hades, the Implacable and Adamant”
Given by Poets:
The Grisly God (Homer)
Ruthless King (Homer)
Infernal [Zeus] (Vergil, he said Jove)
Stygian [Zeus] (Vergil, same as above)
Sources:
Hellenic Gods (dot Org)
Brown, Robert (1844). “The Religion of Zoroaster Considered In Connection With Archaic Monotheism” (also known as Wikipedia citation)
The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization
