Hades and Hades II, the games from Supergiant Games, are set in Greek mythology and largely take place in the Underworld. Although they take a few creative liberties, both games feature gods, heroes, and a wealth of elements drawn from mythology. But what about the two main characters, Zagreus and Melinoe?
Zagreus
In the game, Zagreus (Ζαγρεύς) or Zagrée is the son of Hades and Persephone, but in mythology, he is a much more complex figure who appears in various versions.
Orphism
The best-known version of Zagreus is found in Orphism, a movement that diverges from the classical Olympian view to offer a perspective more focused on the soul’s journey. There, he is linked to the myth of Dionysus, in a narrative that some scholars say was inspired by the story of Osiris.
Here, although Persephone is still his mother, his father is Zeus, who sees him as his successor. Enraged by Hera’s jealousy, she throws him to the Titans, who tear him limb from limb. Athena narrowly saves his heart, which Zeus has Semele swallow, and Zagreus is reborn as Dionysus.
Other versions
Other authors attribute different origins to Zagreus, describing him as the son of Gaia in earlier versions, or of Hades, who conceived him alone according to Aeschylus. However, there are many accounts in which Zagreus is the son of Hades and Persephone. This version is believed to have merged with the myth of Dionysus, giving rise to the Orphic myth.
Mélinoé
As the daughter of Hades and Persephone, and thus the sister of Zagreus in *Hades II*, Melinoe (Μηλινόη) also has mythical origins.
Orphism
In her case, the most common version of her story is that of Orphism, in which she is a goddess of ghosts and nightmares. Like her brother, she is the daughter of Zeus and Persephone. To conceive her, Zeus took on the appearance of Hades in order to lie with Persephone.
Melinoe is depicted there with a dual body, half white and half black, reflecting her dual nature—half Olympian, half Chthonic.
Other versions
In Hesiod’s works, she is the second daughter of Hades and Persephone, after Macaria. She is a deity closely associated with Hecate, a connection that is reflected in the game, as the goddess of magic serves as her mentor. She is also described as being closely linked to Empusa and the Erinyes.
Conclusion
Thus, our two heroes do indeed exist in Greek mythology, though their origins have been partially rewritten to fit the game’s storyline and the way their lineages were constructed within it. Some details were altered for moral reasons. Their versions fit perfectly into the franchise’s universe, making them believable as the children of Hades and inhabitants of the Underworld.
