The god often referred to as the god of the underworld in Greek mythology is Hades. He rules over the realm of the dead, overseeing the souls that enter his domain after death. Despite often being associated with fear and darkness, Hades is not a god of evil; instead, he maintains balance in the cosmos. He is depicted with symbolic items such as the cerberus, a three-headed dog guarding the gates of his realm. Hades represents the finality of death and the necessary part of the cycle of life, reminding mortals of their mortality and the afterlife journey.