#aidoneus

[littleeyesofpallas]

Okay okay catching up on Bleach because I was putting it off...

So the soul king has an actual name now and it's apparently Adnyeus(?*)[アドナイェウス] which at a glance I thought was some kind of weird mashup of Hebrew Adonai[אֲדֹנָי] and Latin deus as a kind of play on Yhwach's name being based on the tetragrammaton. But actually it's just the name Aidoneus[Ἀϊδωνεύς] which was an old epithet for the Greek Hades, supposedly meaning "The Unseen" which somewhat superficially fits for the Soul King as a king of the dead/underworld.

*(I have no idea where anyone is getting these romanizations I see flying around...)

It's actually not the first time the name has come up. some eagle eyed fans caught that what appears to be "ADNYEUS" was shown back in episode 6 of TYBW in Ryuuken's notes, above the illustration of the castle Silbern. And then at the end of the previous season the anime added a chant to Yhwach's Auswählen that ran:

Kakageyo Gin no Monshou, Haiiro no Sougen, Hikari ni Uzumoreta, Enkan no Michi, Menou no Gankyu, Ougon no Shita, Zugai no Sakazuki, ADNYEUS no Hitsugi. Kakageru mono wa, Omae no Shinzou: AUSWÄHLEN [掲げよ 銀の紋章 灰色の草原 光に埋もれた円環の途 瑪瑙の眼球 黄金の舌 頭蓋の盃 アドナイェウスの棺 掲げるものは お前の心臓 聖別(アウスヴェーレン)] "Raise up Crest of Silver, Ash-colored(gray) Meadow, Circular Road hidden in (the) Light, Eye(s) of Agate, Tongue of Gold, Grail* of Skull, Coffin of Adnyeus. That which is Raised up is Your Heart: Auswählen."

*notably in one of Uryuu's German chants, the Japanese word for a [杯]:"sake cup" was paired with the German word Gral:"Grail", and [盃] and [杯] are alternate kanji for the same word. At the most literal the chant in Japanese just uses the word for "sake cup" like the one he uses for the schrift eucharist, but I feel like the more implicitly western imagery evoked by "skull Grail" or maybe "...chalice" is more in line with the ongoing aesthetic of Quincy spells

I'm not actually in a position to go doing a real deep dive on this but it does seem like at a glance there are associations with that alternate title with a specific incongruous variation of the god of the underworld--that is to say: characterizations of him under this epithets are not consistent with other more common interpretstions-- where he's actually got a lot of strong sun iconography. This of course maps almost perfectly with a bunch of stuff I've ranted on about a few different times in my Bleach ramblings.

Incidentally it is also the scientific namesake of the Papilio aidoneus... a black butterfly... In the first place Bleach's hell-butterflies were already a play on the real world association of butterflies and death, often either as psychopomps or themselves the souls of the dead. That they tie back in to the Soul King himself isn't too big a stretch.

As for this "triplet world" thing... We were already told that Hueco Mundo isn't actually it's own formal realm, it's the interstitial realm that just naturally exists in the space between one world and the next. So it kinda annoys me that this feels like it's really only being acknowledged because after the fact it's just where a big chunk of Bleach's plot happened, rather than actually being cosmologically on par with the other two.

Anyway the translations going around I notice are a little sloppy, mostly in that a few are clearly just machine translated and so ignored the use of Bleach specific terminology, like "reishi" and "kishi" so here's my quick breakdown of it (thank god it's short...)

原初の海から分かたれた尸魂界,現世, 虚圏の三つの世界。 The Three Worlds of Soul Society, This (the mortal) World, Hueco Mundo divided* from the Sea of Origin. 遍く魂魄の流れを司る礎であり, かつ世界の楔たる存在によって, The universal flow of spirits is the foundation to control, as well as the lynchpin of the world which is due to existence, 霊子の世界,器子の世界,砂の楽土の三世界が分離され, the Three Worlds of The World of Reishi, The World of Kishi, The Paradise of Sand are detached*, 『生』と『死』が隔てられた。 "Life" and "Death" were isolated*.

*so interestingly all three of these different words could be translated into english as "separated" but seem to be fairly distinct contextual differences: the first means like cutting one big thing up into smaller things the "A came from B" dynamic being the focus, the second means to be separated out almost like being categorized, and the third is to be isolated or alienated.

So first it's saying the three worlds came from one sea of origin, and that the flow of spirits between those three worlds is the key to existence being what it is, which is to say three distinct realms where death and life are these things that can never coexist. All of which is stuff we really already knew.

Also we're supposed to have just completely forgotten about Hell since it's not the current plot line, I guess? I anything the Three Worlds should be Soul Society, the Material World, and Hell, with Hueco Mundo as the interstitial void/aether, like it was originally defined as. That would at least map more sensibly onto the buddhist 3 realms of Form(Humans & animals: those bound by their physicality), Formless(Deva & Asura: those who exist in a hightened mental/spiritual state), and Desire(Preta & those in Hell: those defined by their strong need for what they lack)

Maybe that only real point of interest is the reference to Hueco Mundo as suna no rakudo[砂の楽土], a "paradise of sand." In this voice I think the idea is that if life and death being separate realms is a bad thing that Yhwach seeks to rectify, then by being an inbetween realm, Hueco Mundo is a paradise, because it's a place of neither life nor death? But if it is a place of rest and comfort then I wonder if that doesn't validate my thoughts on the Vastolorde being the natural path of development for a soul in reincarnation afterall?

That aside, this mostly just lines up with existing Buddhist/Hindu parallels that were always pretty obviously implied but not so directly touched on. Once again things I've babbled about in some form or another already... I'm not about to go digging them all up right now.

[imagineee-123]

Ode to Aidoneus (Hades)

Oh, sweet God of the dead, protect my soul

Your darkness consumes all and keeps us whole

Aidoneus, giver of wealth, the one unseen

Keeper of the departed, our endings foreseen

Rolling waves, leading to your tender embrace

Oh, the fear of your presence is misplaced

A respectable, fatherly being

Your watchful eye and doting, oh-so-freeing

Your eternal black, revered by the moon and stars alike

The realm of Hades’ where there is only night

Lost souls, wallow and pray

You are the light to lead our way

The lingering smoke of a candle wick burnt

You, to which our spirits will return

May their trepidation turn to serenity

As they learn, you are not our enemy

Mortal life is far too brief

Though I know you’ll bring comfort to our grief

Your Kingdom, mysterious and homely

How I know your arms will hold me

Oh, praise be to Hades and His arcane caress

There will be a day I must feel the kiss of death

And in His domain, there will be no rain

For I will know I am loved

This is an original poem. Please don't repost elsewhere! (At least not without credit or permission.) Thanks to @vibeswithrenai for the Hades themed dividers.

[khaire-traveler]

Death comes in many forms.

It can come in the literal form - the ending of a life.

It can come in the form of loss with the finality of any relationship.

It can come in the form of transformation, shedding your old skin to replace it with something new.

It can come in the form of learning, replacing old knowledge that's no longer useful or accurate.

It can come in the form of music after the end of your favorite song.

It can come in the form of relief when a moment of strong tension is finally released.

It can come in the form of breath - an exhale leaving your body.

Death comes in many forms.

[applebrooklyn]

You assumed that I could make you feel it was worth it

But all I ever did was drag you down

And bring you in and out through hell again

My goddess of light, and spring and all things good

—"Persephone in the Garden", Aidoneus

[tatelangdon29]

Started reading Lore Olympus again yesterday, not my comfort read but okay can we please talk about this line?? this beautifully crafted line!!

Aidoneus (Hades) is literally one of the most respectful guys.

Also loads of appreciation for Rachel Smythe!!

[lillysilvermoon]

My favorite epithets of King Hades

Agesilaus (Ἀγησίλαος) - The Leader Aidoneus - (Ἀїδωνεύς) - The Unseen Necro Soter (νεκρός σωτήρ) - Savior of The Dead Eukles - The One With Good Reputation Isodetes (δέω) - The Imparcial Judge

 

[dionysianfreak]

On the Homeric Hymns to Demeter (i) // Introduction, Charles Boer's translations of the Homeric Hymns, 1987

Everyone is hurting now that Demeter is mad, and that seems to be Her purpose — there is no food to be had from Her earth. A deal is made and She gets Her way, She gets Her daughter back, but not before Persephone is given a pomegranate seed to eat by Her new husband, requiring Her to return to Hades for one winter season each year, when Demeter will again withhold Her crops. Some might say Hades is too generous; most husbands would not go so far to comfort the pathology of their mothers-in-law. But it is Demeter's point of view that we must take through this Hymn, Her feelings, Her attitudes, Her sufferings that we share.

To the extent that we share them, we are Her followers. She gives our suffering meaning. She shows us the way

[fright-designs]

until we are nothing but stardust - Lore Olympus (buy it here)

[infernalzeus]

E-Offering for King Hades 💜🖤💙💛

Ave Hades! You, oh hidden and holy one, who guards the dead in your dreaded kingdom. You who is a shepherd to undead sheep, I praise your name! Blessed is the coin, the scythe, and the horn. Blessed are the rivers, the stones, the jewels and gems. Blessed is the dark night, the flicker of candle light, the whispers of ghosts. Blessed is peace, blessed is rest. Blessed is He, dressed in silk and gold crests. Khaîre, oh great one, who has watched me since my youth! Khaîre, oh Hades- may I always honor you!

All images found on Pinterest

[kores-pomegranate]

Hades’ whispered vows to Persephone are taken from the Homeric Hymn to Demeter and I am NOT OKAY 😭😭😭

[runeoftheunderworld]

Any other worshippers use the bank of Hades as a devotional act?

Money goes in the box on his altar, and stays there because I don’t want to anger him, and boom savings.

[supernova3space]

So many people are posting like, "Yo, look, this song is so Patrochilles/SunFlower/Hades×Persephone this is so accurate to their relationship."

Sure, the vibes are fine. The vibes are ok.

But I'm a perfectionist.

Have you listened to Aidoneus? Dude has so far written five songs (four with vocals and one instrumental) and they're all about Greek Mythology.

Persephone in the Garden - Hades×Persephone

Hyacinthus - Hyacinthus×Apollo

Devourer - Patroclus×Achilles

Kronos/Rhea - What the name says and more.

Arche (instrumental)

Like, these songs EXIST. Just listening to them made me feel like I was ascending into heaven. The harmonies are angelic. The instrumentals are immaculate. The vocals are gorgeous.

I just love these songs so much and seeing how people are digging around for one line in some random pop song which has nothing to do with the ship they're relating it to sometimes drives me mad.

For fucks sake, people, go listen.

Dude's literal name is Aidoneus. It's another name for Hades. What more proof do you need that this is a Greek mythology nerd?

[imagineee-123]

Cleaning up and painting these candle holders I thrifted for Hades' altar

Attempting to soften sticker residue on bottom with white vinegar atm

[mickc-art]

I’ve been working on a retelling of Abduction of Persephone and there are things I might add here:

This might be a black comedy work (inspirations taken from The Good Place and other American/British comedy shows)

Persephone isn’t the “Goddess of Spring” but called and praised as one

Kore is Perse’s nickname

Hades’ design is based on Jemaine Clement (I kept imagining that)

Hades is sort of an antagonist in my retelling (he’s the main antagonist at first then became a supporting character)

Persephone wears in blue green motifs in the mortal realm

Perse wasn’t aware that she’s Zeus’ daughter until she and Hades had an argument about marriage

Perse and Hades’ relationship resembled Eleanor and Michael’s from The Good Place (their role are similar to architect but Hades focused a bit on parties and sometimes punishing)

Demeter isn’t an overbearing/overprotective mother but a cool mom to Perse and Dionysus (Perse and Dio are twins and they’re both Zeus’ kids)

Perse and Dem have no knowledge of Perse being married off to Hades (Dem was in the mortal realm when the arrangement happens)

[flum3n]

the grief/rage of artemis

Orion Dead - H.D. / Love's Shadow - Anthony Frederick Sandys / Devourer - Aidoneus / Orion Dead / Fallen Angel - Alexander Cabanel / Hippolytos - Euripides, trans. Anne Carson / Diana of Versailles / I'm Your Man - Mitski / Artemis - 5th c. Athenian Red-Figure Bell-crater (Boston Museum of Fine Arts) / Devourer / Artemis and Orion - Anon., Budapest Museum of Fine Arts / Notes on Thought and Vision - H.D. / Orion Dead / Weary Moon - Robert Edward Hughes

[pequelagarto]

“I'm gonna be your satellite

Now hand over your world at night

And I can hear you sleep beneath the candlelight

I can see your dreams like they were mine”

Thank you Havanna Nights for the inspo, I can draw these two all day <3