Godly Weapons

Today we are looking into the mysterious history of Hades and his Helm of Darkness!

Hades’s Helm is a distinctive weapon and very helpful in battle. The Helm, otherwise known as the Cap of Invisibility, renders the user completely invisible. It was also said that it radiated fear. It was used by Hades in the Titan War, it was lent to Perseus to help him defeat Medusa and Hermes used it while in a battle with Hyppolitos, a Giant.

The Helm was made at the same time as Zeus’s Master Bolt and Poseidon’s Trident, by the Cyclops after they were freed. The Helm is often described as radiating fear and has dominion over the Underworld and the dead, which developed after the Titanomachy.

Hades often lent the Helm to others to help with their quests. The Helm was a temporary gift to the demigod, Perseus, to help defeat Medusa. He used it to sneak into the cave where Medusa lived, and it was returned to Hades after Perseus rescued his mother. Hermes and Athena also used it while fighting the giants. Hermes used it to defeat the Giant Hyppolitos with the help of Hercules and Athena used it to help Diomedes. She used it to sneak past Ares, as Diomedes and Ares were enemies.

The Helm has been used in inspiration in many popular media, such as in video games:

• It is used as a piece of equipment in Dragon Quest

• You can acquire it in God of War

It is also used in books or plays. For example, the Helm plays a major role in the novel, Illium, in which the narrator, scholar Thomas Hockenberry, gains possession of the Helm through Aphrodite, who intends for him to spy and eventually assassinate the goddess Athena. The Helm is also used in the Italian mythological comedy, Arrivano i titani, but it will only turn the wearer invisible at night.

Fun facts about Hades and his Helm:

• In some classic mythologies, the Helm is called by a different name such as the Helmet of Pluto and the Helm of Orcus

• Hades may be the god of death, he must not be confused with Thanatos, who is death itself

• The Greeks later named Hades, Plouton, which the Romans pluralized to Pluto. Plouton/Pluto means ‘giver of wealth’, but in Ancient Greek, it means invisible

• The Underworld is separated from the land of the living by five rivers; Styx, Lethe, Acheron, Phlegethon, and Cocytus

• Hades took pride in gathering ‘subjects’ for his kingdom and was rather disinclined to let them leave

• The Narcissus and Cypress are sacred to him

• According to the Illiad, Hades’ dominion lies between secret places of the earth. According to the Odyssey, you must cross the ocean to get there

That’s all for today! Stay tuned for weapon history!