Hymn to Hades, King of the Underworld

Video Devotional

black-candle


Light a black candle during this chant


Incense for Hades:

Frankincense, Cypress, Mint, Patchouli.

Offerings to Hades:

Pomegranate, Red wine, Bay leaf, Mint, Coins and Money, Stones, Tobacco.

Hades

Hades is the Greek God of the dead and the King of the Underworld, with which his name became synonymous.

While he wasn’t intrinsically evil, he was a fearsome character for those who still lived. In no rush to meet him, ancient Greeks were reluctant to take oaths on his behalf. For many, simply saying the word “Hades” was already frightening.

💎 Because precious minerals came from the depths of the earth, he was considered to have control of these as well, and was referred to as Plouton (from ‘wealth’ in Greek), from where his Roman name comes: Pluto.

Worshipped in times of death, Hades was the ruler of the domain of the dead. The God of Death, however, was Thanatos. Hades was simply a caretaker of the dead and can be seen as a representation of the balance in life. He kept the souls in place so they wouldn’t go back to Earth.

There were no temples dedicated to Hades, perhaps with the exception of the Necromanteion of Ackeron, a necromancy temple devoted to Hades and his wife Persephone, who he famously kidnapped from her mother Demeter. This site was believed by devotees to be the door to Hades, the realm of the dead.

Devotional text

Plouton, magnanimous, whose realms profound
are fixed beneath the firm and solid ground,
in the Tartarean plains remote from sight,
and wrapt for ever in the depths of night.

Zeus of the Underworld, thy sacred ear incline,
and pleased accept these sacred rites divine.

Earth’s keys to thee, illustrious king, belong,
its secret gates unlocking, deep and strong.

‘Tis thine abundant annual fruits to bear,
for needy mortals are thy constant care.
To thee, great king, all sovereign earth assigned,
the seat of gods and basis of mankind.

Thy throne is fixed in Haides’ dismal plains,
distant, unknown to the rest, where darkness reigns;
where, destitute of breath, pale spectres dwell,
in endless, dire, inexorable hell.

And in dread Akheron, whose depths obscure,
earth’s stable roots eternally secure.
O mighty Daimon, whose decision dread,
the future fate determines of the dead.

With Demeter’s girl captive, through grassy plains,
drawn in a four-yoked car with loosened reins,
rapt over the deep, impelled by love,
you flew till Eleusinia’s city rose to view.

There, in a wondrous cave obscure and deep,
the sacred maid secure from search you keep,
the cave of Atthis, whose wide gates display
an entrance to the kingdoms void of day.

Of works unseen and seen thy power alone
to be the great dispending source is known.
All-ruling, holy God, with glory bright,
thee sacred poets and their rhymes delight,

Propitious to thy mystics’ works incline,
rejoicing come, for holy rites are thine.

Rituals and Cult of Hades

Hades is usually not invited into the home. Instead temporary altars are set up outside.

Rituals to Hades are done at night. The worshiper digs a pit and sits on their knees with the head bowed and the hands extended towards the ground, or with the palms on the ground.

Libations are poured in the pit and offerings placed inside and burned along with candles as the invocations are chanted.

Pluto's symbol
Pluto’s symbol with Hades’ bident

When the Greeks appeased Hades, they slapped their hands hard against the ground to make sure he could hear them. Black furred animals were sacrificed to him, and it is believed that at some point he was even offered human sacrifices. The blood from the sacrifices to Hades dripped into a well so that it could reach him.

Printable Chant to Hades

This PDF version comes with a transparent background so you can print it on any kind of paper you want and add it to your own Book of Shadows. Log in to download it or find free printable grimoire pages.

Related Spells & Lessons

Chant to Persephone

Chant this prayer to invoke Persephone’s power of renewal and rebirth. Celebrate the spring or the start of any new cycle.

Samhain Ritual

Samhain is also known as the Witches’ New Year, a celebration of the dark half of the year and the thinning of the veil between the worlds.

Tarot Card: Death

The 13th Major Arcana card in Tarot decks typically depicts the Grim Reaper, and when used for divination is often interpreted as signifying major changes in a person’s life.

Wiccan Beliefs

People have tried to understand what happens after death since the dawn of time. Discover the concept of Summerland, and what Wiccans and other neopagans believe we go when we die.

Spells with Black Candles

Black candles are used as main ingredients in rituals where we want to fight back a curse. If you feel that someone is projecting envy, or negativity, light a black candle.

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