The Moon Goddesses in Hades 2 Explained

This article contains spoilers for
Hades 2
.

The moon plays a large role in Hades 2, and two of the main characters in the game, Melinoe and Hecate, are goddesses that have strong ties to the moon in ancient Greek mythology. The power of the moon is closely tied to witchcraft even in the early stages of the technical test in Hades 2, with the player being able to track the phases of the moon, as well as crescent moons appearing all over both Hecate’s Crossroads and Erebus. In addition to the environments and game design, three goddesses connected to the moon support Melinoe on her journey: Hecate, Selene, and Artemis.

All four goddesses have been considered moon goddesses during periods of Greek mythology. In Hades 2, the goddesses clearly have longstanding, established relationships and an understanding with each other. The moon was often associated with witchcraft and different goddesses at various stages of Greek history, with different goddesses becoming more prominent at different times. That they’ve allied as a group in Hades 2 is great to see and creates an interesting support system for Melinoe. To further identify them as a group, all four goddesses’ designs reflect their allegiance to each other. Their clothing includes moon imagery in various phases, as well as a multicolored rope that all four goddesses wear.

The Goddesses of the Crossroads in Hades 2

Melinoe

Hades 2‘s protagonist is Melinoe, the sister of Zagreus. Like Zagreus, Melinoe is a minor figure in Greek mythology, allowing Supergiant Games the freedom to create stories about her. In Greek mythology, Melinoe is a Chthonic goddess thought to bring nightmares and madness. Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft and the crossroads, is also closely associated with her. Although Melinoe isn’t explicitly connected with the moon in sources, the words used to describe her in poetry are associated with other moon goddesses, and the moon has appeared on stone tablets alluding to her.

Hecate

Hecate is more closely identified as a moon goddess than Melinoe, but her association was witchcraft and the Crossroads. Because Melinoe and Hecate were identified closely together, many of Hecate’s symbols, such as torches, witchcraft, and the moon, were carried over to Melinoe as well. Supergiant Games has reinterpreted their relationship as one of mentor and student.

The Moon Goddesses of Hades 2

Selene

Selene was one of the Titans that sided with the Olympians in their war against Chronos, so it’s unsurprising that she would be supporting the Olympians in Hades 2. Of all the moon goddesses, Selene was the most closely associated with the moon, and players may be more familiar with her Roman counterpart’s name, Luna. Over time, as the worship of Artemis and Apollo grew, Selene’s popularity began to fade, eventually being replaced by Artemis. Despite this, Selene’s association with the moon endures even today, with characters associated with the moon in many stories named Selene in reference to her.

Artemis

Artemis became the moon goddess because of her twin brother, Apollo, who became the god of the sun. As time passed, her and Selene’s identities crossed paths and Artemis supplanted her as the moon goddess, though not as an incarnation of the moon itself. As a goddess of the hunt, along with her associations with wild places, Artemis’ new additional role as the goddess of the moon was one that invited mystery and was perfect for Artemis.