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Bronze statue of the three-headed dog of ancient mythology.

Cerebrus

Bronze statue of the three-headed dog of ancient mythology.

"Hades" — Gayley, 1893

Hades

"Hades" — Gayley, 1893

"Hades and Persephone" — Gayley, 1893

Hades

"Hades and Persephone" — Gayley, 1893

"Hercules descended into Hades, accompanied by Mercury and Minerva. He obtained permission from Pluto to carry Cerberus to the upper air provided he could do it without the use of weapons; and in spite of the monster's struggling, he seized him, held him fast, and carried him to Eurystheus, and afterward brought him back again." —Bulfinch, 1897

Hercules and Cerberus

"Hercules descended into Hades, accompanied by Mercury and Minerva. He obtained permission from Pluto…

Roman goddess of the underworld.

Pluto

Roman goddess of the underworld.

Roman god of the underworld and the judge of the dead

Pluto abducts Proserpina

Roman god of the underworld and the judge of the dead

Roman god of the underworld

Pluto and Proserpina

Roman god of the underworld

"Pluto throned." —Bulfinch, 1897

Pluto throned

"Pluto throned." —Bulfinch, 1897

"Mercury was sent, accompanied by Spring, to demand Persephone of Pluto. The wily monarch consented, but, alas! the maiden had taken a pomegranate which Pluto offered her, and had sucked the sweet pulp from a few of the seeds. This was enough to prevent her complete release, by which she was to pass half the time with her mother, and the rest with her husband Pluto." —Bulfinch, 1897

Pluto, Persephone, and Mercury

"Mercury was sent, accompanied by Spring, to demand Persephone of Pluto. The wily monarch consented,…

"As he sang these tender strains, the very ghosts shed tears. Tantalus, in spite of his thirst, stopped for a moment his efforts for water, Ixion's wheel stood still, the vulture ceased to tear the giant's liver, the daightrs of Danaus rested from their task of drawing water in a sieve, and Sisyphus sat on his rock to listen." —Bulfinch, 1897

Tantalus, Sisyphus, and Ixion

"As he sang these tender strains, the very ghosts shed tears. Tantalus, in spite of his thirst, stopped…