This hit indie sequel travels further back in history than most Greek Myths
Greek mythology is always popular, but there is something truly magical about Hades II and its protagonist, the mystical Melinoë. The long-awaited sequel was released in 2025 on Steam and Nintendo Switch, bringing a titanic amount of game awards and nominations. It was recently released on PS5, sparking renewed interest in both the game and the myths that inspired it. Like its predecessor, Hades (released in 2020), Hades II revisits the Underworld and the legends from a much older collection of Greek Myths. However, the newer game also touches upon the living as Melinoë explores both above and below. The Underworld always offers some of the best storytelling, in both narrative and landscape. If the research for Hades II is as good the second time around, then it offers a whole new level of inspiration for geek travel away from the heavily trodden and overly romanticised paths.
Hades II: Melinoë
If you’re not familiar with the game, here’s a quick summary: Hades II is a roguelike dungeon crawler single-player game. You play as Melinoë, Princess of the Underworld and sister of the protagonist for the first game, Hades. Melinoë is mentored by Hecate, the Greek Goddess of Witchcraft and the master of the rebels working to defeat Chronos, the Titan of Time. For those venturing into the Underworld for the first time, I will warn you that both Hades and Hades II are ruthless and unrelenting. Both are the kind of game where you are constantly fighting over and over again, dying over and over again. You may not think you are progressing, but each time you gain new achievements that stack in your favour. For once, dying isn’t actually a bad thing.
Hades II is better than the original because it builds even more on the narrative, the characters, their relationships, and the landscape you traverse. This time, Melinoë needs to travel through both the Underworld and the Land of the Living, recruiting new allies to build an army strong enough to defeat Chronos. For obvious reasons, we are going to focus on the ‘above-ground’ travel sites: the City of Ephyra, Thessaly, and Mount Olympus.
The Story of Melinoë
Contemporary fans of Greek Mythology may not recognise Melinoë (or even her brother Zagreus). She is not one of the Big Twelve, nor does she raise a mention in most myths relating to Hades and Persephone. And you definitely won’t see Melinoë in Hadestown, but she does come from the Orphic Hymns, attributed to the mythical poet Orpheus. The hymns were often invoked in rituals, partly because they were primarily strings of epithets that summoned the gods’ powers. Melinoë is one of the few deities who, frankly, is known only through her mention in the Orphic Hymns, though her implications and characterisations tie in with even earlier rituals. Since these date back to the 2nd or 3rd centuries CE, Melinoë is a great inspiration for exploring the earliest of Ancient Greek Myths and legends.
First Stop: The City of Ephyra
Melinoë’s first attempt at the Land of the Living is through Ephyra, a city sacred to Hades and Persephone and built near a supposed entrance to the Underworld. However, when Melinoë finally arrives, it is overrun with Cronus’ compatriots. Fortunately, your visit should be less tumultuous.
Ephyra is a name given to a few different towns across Ancient Greece, most notably the modern city of Corinth. Its former version, Ancient Corinth (creative, yes?) was also known as Ephyra, with a port that connected directly to both the Corinthian and Saronic Gulfs. However, Corinth was not a city considered ‘sacred’ to Hades or Persephone. So, with all due respect, Ephyra in Hades II is not in Corinth. Instead, we’re heading to the Necromanteium of Acheron.
The Necromanteium was once located near the city of Kichyro (also spelt Cichyrus), capital of ancient Thesprotia and one of the three main tribes of the northwestern Greek Group. The ancient geographer Strabo noted that Kichyros was once known as Ephyra, with even older stories referring to the King of Ephyra as Aidoneus, an ancient name for Hades.
While this Ephyra is not located directly on a port, like Hades II, it is near the Acheron River, one of the five rivers said to encircle Hades and the only one that still has a physical presence today. According to the Orphic Hymns, Persephone gave birth to Melinoë by “the mouth of the Kokytos River”, believed to be Acherousian Lake, where the Acheron and Kokytos Rivers meet; a further example of the importance Ephyra would hold to Melinoë and her family. You can read more about the Necromanteium on the official site here. It’s fascinating to see how far back it goes, with Mycenaean children’s graves dating to around 14th BCE, and later use in the Hellenistic period (3rd BCE), Macedonian (167 BCE), and later Roman.
The Necromanteium is located near the very popular Acheron Springs, both about an hour’s drive north of Ioannina, in Epirus. Hire a car or driver for the day, since public transport isn’t regular out here. You will probably want an hour for the Necromanteium and the afternoon for a walk or swim in the Acheron Springs. Make sure you take a waterproof bag for your personal belongings. The best time of year for the Springs is summer, but it will also be very popular. Late spring or early autumn work well. Like Hades II, you are sure to feel rejuvenated with a good soak. But the Rift of Thessaly awaits…
The Rift of Thessaly
Ancient Thessaly was an expansive land stretching from the Pindos Mountains in the west and Mount Othrys in the south to Mount Olympus. However, in Hades II, Poseidon has flooded the land to slow Chronos and his allies’ advance toward Mount Olympus. If you are looking for sailing ships in the Rift of Thessaly, unfortunately, you will be disappointed. Yet, there are other highlights to follow Melinoë’s journey.
Start your journey across Thessaly in Ioannina, and visit the Archaeological Museum of Ioannina. It houses an extensive collection of artefacts from the Epirus region, from Lower Paleolithic (250,000 years ago) to Late Roman times. Some of these are from burial sites, with references to ancient death rituals, while others refer to the Oracle of Dodona, which was once more famous than Delphi.
Continue east to the Theopetra Cave, a prehistoric site dating back 130,000 years. Recently reopened with updated conservation efforts, the Cave features a museum with detailed exhibits that explain the site’s cultural and historical significance. Theopetra Cave is a rare historical record of the shift in dominance from Neanderthals to modern humans, and of the later shift from hunter-gatherer to farming at the end of the last Ice Age. The cave sits at the natural boundary between Thessaly and Macedonia, providing refuge to cave dwellers.
The city of Larissa lies even further east from the Cave, and almost directly south of Mount Olympus itself. Larissa and the Thessaly plains revered Poseidon, god of the seas, god of horses, and (in Ancient Thessaly) god of Springs. At the intersection of Demeter and Nikis Streets, you will find a votive stele (column) from the 4th century BCE dedicated to the god Poseidon. Well, a replica. The original is now found in Larissa’s Diachronic Museum along with many other historic artefacts from the region.
The Climb to Mount Olympus
Olympus: the dwelling place of the gods. Stories, myths, and legends attribute the name to a summit filled with light and majestic beauty. But as a physical location? Herodotus was one of the earliest to attribute it to the Thessalian Mount Olympus around the 5th century BCE, in part because it is the highest mountain range in Greece. And while it is a natural beauty in its own right, you will not find palaces or shining temples at the Summit. Thankfully, you won’t find any angry titans either.
For safety reasons, always check in with the Olympus National Park Information Centre in Litochoro before hiking or climbing Mount Olympus. It is the best place for weather updates, mountaineering maps, and general travel information.
Melinoë is likely to have taken the path affiliated with her father: Hades’ Pass. From Litochoro, take the E65 towards Dion and follow the signs for Hades Pass until you reach the summit trailhead. The pass is ideal for nature photography with panoramic views and dramatic cliffs. It is one of many paths across the national park, well-loved for hiking, mountaineering, and climbing. Hades Pass also leads to the famous Muses Plateau, an alpine meadow slightly to the north and frequently filled with wild flowers in late spring and summer. The Plateau is often used as a base for climbers heading to higher peaks.
Mount Olympus is an absolutely stunning nature reserve in its own right. Think more akin to the final images of Hades II, and not the loom-and-gloom that first greets Melinoë. Flora and fauna thrive here amid intense ecological biodiversity. From Golden Eagles in the sky to Fire Salamanders on the ground, and a range of plant life in between, Mount Olympus deserves a moment to stop and soak it all in. Melinoë didn’t have that chance, but you do. Take a breather – for Melinoë.
A Final Visit
For a ‘true ending’ to your Melinoë journey, return to the foot of the mountain and Ancient Dion – the sanctuary of Zeus, king of the gods. It was used as a sanctuary and centre for celebrations by both Phillip II and his son, Alexander the Great. The sanctuary extends beyond the city walls, as seen with a theatre, stadium, and odeion (an ancient building for poetic performances) to the west. You can also see evidence of various forms of worship, including to Dionysus, Athena, and Cybele (closely related to Demeter). The ruins of Ancient Dion are extensive, although many of the best artefacts have been moved to the Archaeological Museum of Dion.
Before you leave Ancient Dion, take a moment at the sacred springs of the river Vaphyras and reflect on your journey. Legend says this is the death site of Orpheus, torn apart by the Thracian Maenads for no longer worshipping Dionysus. When the Maenads realised what they had done, they tried to wash their hands in the river Vaphyras, but it receded away from their touch and sank beneath the ground.
Hades II and Melinoë’s stories may be steeped in legend and myth, but it doesn’t stop us from tracing their origins. They are simply history retold with an orphic flair, giving us both entertainment and context. From Ephyra and the Necromanteium of Acheron across the plains of Thessaly to Mount Olympus, Hades II can inspire your own epic journey to Greece – all in good time.
