Hades is a figure from Greek mythology who rules the underworld, the realm of the dead. As one of the Olympian gods, he governs over the souls of the deceased and oversees the afterlife. Hades is often depicted as stern and somewhat grim, but not necessarily evil. He is responsible for maintaining the balance of life and death and ensuring that the dead do not escape from his domain. Hades also represents the concept of the afterlife and the inevitability of death, embodying the mysterious and often feared aspects of the underworld.