Who guided the mortal to Hades after death in Greek mythology?

In Greek mythology, Hermes is known as the messenger of the gods, but he also has a crucial role as a psychopomp, which is a guide for souls traveling to the afterlife. When a person dies, Hermes escorts their soul to Hades, the realm of the dead. This escorting is important as it ensures that the deceased reaches the underworld safely and properly. Hermes is often depicted as having a staff known as the caduceus, which symbolizes his role in guiding souls and is associated with transitions and boundaries between the living world and the afterlife.

Other figures mentioned in the options have different roles: Zeus is the king of the gods, Hades is the god who rules over the underworld but does not guide souls, and Apollo is the god of prophecy, music, and healing. Each god has their own domain and responsibilities in mythology, but Hermes uniquely fulfills the role of leading souls to Hades, making him the correct choice for this question.