Hades had a crush on Persephone.
Hades' fascination with Persephone began when he saw her at the Panathenaea festival held for Zeus and Hera. He was immediately struck by her beauty and inquired about her identity from his brother, Zeus. This initial attraction sparked Hades' desire to make Persephone his queen in the Underworld. The reference text specifically highlights that Hades was "smitten" upon seeing her, indicating a strong infatuation and the beginning of his desire for her.
While other figures in Greek mythology may have been associated with Hades in different contexts, Persephone remains the central figure of his romantic interest and eventual wife. Their story is a cornerstone of Greek mythology, representing themes of love, abduction, and the cyclical nature of life and death.
