The VERY Messed Up Origins™ of Zagreus, God of Rebirth | Mythology Explained - Jon Solo

Jon Solo・2 minutes read

The game "Hades" by Supergiant Games portrays Zagreus attempting to escape the Underworld, born to Persephone and Hades in the game. In mythology, Zagreus is believed to be the son of Zeus, not Hades, leading to a complex narrative of power struggles and divine manipulation.

Insights

  • In the game "Hades," the narrative diverges from traditional mythology by portraying Zagreus as the son of Hades and Persephone, not Zeus and Persephone as in the original myth, showcasing a unique interpretation of the characters and their relationships.
  • The depiction of Zagreus' resurrection orchestrated by Nyx, unbeknownst to Persephone due to her absence from the Underworld, hints at a complex web of divine interventions and manipulations, underscoring the intricate and secretive nature of the gods' actions in the game's storyline.

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Recent questions

  • Who is Zagreus in the game "Hades"?

    Zagreus is the son of Hades and Persephone.

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Summary

00:00

"Escape from Underworld: Zagreus' Tragic Journey"

  • The game "Hades" by Supergiant Games features Zagreus, the son of Hades and Persephone, attempting to escape the Underworld repeatedly.
  • Hades did not directly kidnap Persephone in the game; Zeus, feeling sorry for Hades, took her from Olympus to the Underworld.
  • Persephone, tired of living with the Olympians, willingly stayed in the Underworld with Hades, forming a genuine relationship.
  • Zagreus, born to Persephone and Hades in the game, tragically dies shortly after birth, leading Persephone to leave the Underworld.
  • In mythology, Zagreus is believed to be the son of Zeus, not Hades, conceived through Zeus' violation of Persephone.
  • Zagreus in mythology displayed immense power by wielding Zeus' lightning bolt, indicating his potential to inherit Zeus' throne.
  • Hera, Zeus' wife, sought revenge on Zeus by orchestrating Zagreus' death, leading to a brutal attack by the Titans in various versions of the story.
  • Despite his young age, Zagreus fought valiantly against the Titans but was ultimately overpowered and gruesomely dismembered.
  • In the game, Nyx convinces the Fates to resurrect Zagreus, a gesture unknown to Persephone due to her disappearance from the Underworld.
  • Persephone's binding to the Underworld prevents her from searching for Zagreus, leaving his resurrection unknown to her.

11:36

Gods' Pranks and Myths: Zagreus' Tale

  • Nyx decided to raise Zagreus alongside her twin sons, Thanatos and Hypnos, Gods of Death and Sleep, with the plan for him to break free from the Underworld when strong enough.
  • Athena saved Zagreus' heart from the Titans, either placing it in a statue or turning it into a potion for Zeus' lover Semele to drink.
  • Hera, upon discovering Zeus' plan, manipulated Semele into demanding to see Zeus' true form, resulting in her obliteration but the survival of the baby inside her.
  • Zeus incubated the fetus of Zagreus in his thigh or ballsac, leading to the birth of Dionysus, the God of Wine.
  • Orpheus, a character in the game, is depicted as the court musician in the House of Hades, too depressed to play music due to his wife's death.
  • Zagreus and Dionysus prank Orpheus by claiming they are the same god, leading Orpheus to write a song about it, reflecting the real mythology.
  • The game implies that the real Zagreus' story, religion, and rituals were all a prank between gods, contrasting the authentic Orphism religion practiced by ancient Greeks.
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