The royal family of the Underworld
The Chthonic Deities (sing. Chthonic, also known as the Chthonic Gods) is an umbrella term for any and all deities associated with the Underworld, subterranea, or agriculture.
Unlike their surface-dwelling counterparts, the Olympians, who rule over the living, most of the Chthonic Deities reside within the Underworld and act as the celestial bureaucracy in charge of running the various day-to-day activities of the afterlife.
Because of this, they are often seen as being far more mature and responsible than the Olympians who, more often than not, prefer to eternally live out narcissistic, hedonistic lifestyles.
History[]
Origins[]
Most Chthonic Gods were born to the goddess Nyx who for a time ruled the Underworld alone. After the Titans were overthrown by their children, Hades gained rulership of the Underworld after he and his brothers had drawn lots to divide the world. Hades later fell in love with Persephone after she was brought to him and became his queen for a time but later left after their son Zagreus had died when he was born.
Hades[]
In Hades, some Chthonic Gods are interactable characters who aid Zagreus such as Nyx, Thanatos and Hypnos while others serve as enemies like Megaera, Tisiphone, Alecto and Hades.
When Persephone returns, she devices a plan to make the Chthonic and Olympians Gods make peace which succeeds.
Hades II[]
Before the events of the game, Hades and Persephone managed to have a second child whom they named Melinoë, but after her birth the Titan Chronos escaped and took control of the Underworld imprisoning most Chthonic Gods or forcing them to scatter. On Hades's orders, Hecate escaped the Underworld with Melinoë and Hypnos to the Crossroads where she would raise and train Melinoë to kill Chronos.
In Hades II, some Chthonic Gods are interactable characters who aid Melinoë such as Hecate, Nemesis and Moros while others serve as enemies like Eris. Melinoë later discovers that Chronos captured the Three Fates and sent them somewhere in time to no longer interfere with his plans.
Known Chthonic Deities[]
Royal Family[]
- Hades - God of the Dead; King of the Underworld.
- Persephone - Goddess of Verdure; Queen of the Underworld.
- Zagreus - God of Blood; Prince of the Underworld.
- Melinoë - Goddess of Nightmare; Princess of the Underworld.
Night and Offsprings[]
- Nyx - Protogenos of Night; Former Queen of the Underworld.
- The Fates - Goddesses of Foretelling; Weavers of Destiny.
- Geras - God of Old Age.
- Charon - God of Transition; Boatman of the Underworld.
- Moros - God of Doom; Emissary of the Three Fates.
- Nemesis - Goddess of Retribution.
- Philotes - Goddess of Friendship.
- Momus - God of Sarcasm.
- Oizys - Goddess of Misery.
- Thanatos - God of Peaceful Death.
- Hypnos - God of Sleep.
- Eris - Goddess of Strife.
The Furies[]
- Megaera - Tormentor of Jealousy; First of the Furies.
- Tisiphone - Tormentor of Murders.
- Alecto - Tormentor of Passions.
Others[]
- Hecate - Titaness of Witchcraft.
- Hermes - God of Swiftness; Psychopomp of the Underworld.
- Chaos - Protogenos of the Void; Primordial Originator.
Trivia[]
- Although chthonic by work, Hades, Persephone and Hermes are still Olympians by blood.
- Currently, Nemesis is the only known Chthonic Deity confirmed to not reside in the Underworld.
- Since he's an Olympian from the pantheon, Hermes also doesn't reside in the Underworld.
- It's implied Eris spends most of her time on the surface, but she might still reside in the Underworld.
- If one considers the Chaos Realm to be an entirely separate location from the rest of the Underworld, then Chaos also counts.