hades
n. uncountablen. the place where people go after they die in ancient Greek stories. It is also the name of the god who rules that dark world.
n. the underworld of Greek mythology, serving as the abode of the dead. When capitalised, it refers to the chthonic deity who presides over this realm.
In the myth, Orpheus travels to Hades to find his wife.
The ancient Greeks believed that Hermes would lead the souls of the deceased down into the depths of Hades.
Modern literature often reimagines Hades not merely as a place of punishment, but as a complex bureaucratic landscape where every soul must eventually account for its earthly deeds.
Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ᾍδης (Hāídēs).
Usually capitalised as a proper noun; often used with the definite article when referring to the place.