Pluto, the deity associated with the Underworld in Roman mythology, is known for choosing not to dwell among the other gods on Olympus, preferring the solitude of the realm beneath the earth. His Greek equivalent, Hades, shares much in common with him.
Family Background
Pluto, or Hades, is the offspring of the Titans Saturn (Cronus) and Ops (Rhea), and he is a sibling to Jupiter (Zeus) and Neptune (Poseidon). Following the defeat of the Titans, Jupiter ascended to the throne previously held by Saturn as the supreme deity. He partitioned the dominion among his brothers, granting Neptune sovereignty over the oceans and rivers, while Pluto received dominion over Tartarus and the Underworld, which is frequently referred to as Hades. As the ruler of this ominous realm, he governed the deceased, and Mercury (Hermes) served as the divine messenger responsible for guiding souls to Pluto’s domain.
Though Pluto evoked immense dread among mortals, he was also widely reviled.
Pluto’s court was held in the shadows, with him seated upon a throne of ebony alongside his queen, Proserpina (Persephone). However, she was an unwilling consort. Captured by Pluto, she was condemned to spend three (or some say six) dismal months yearly in the Underworld, while the remaining time was spent on earth as the embodiment of vegetation. During Ceres’ (Demeter’s) desperate search for her daughter, she received word from the river nymph Arethusa, who shared the sorrowful plight of Proserpina and her reluctant role as queen in the bleak domain.
Characteristics and Symbols
Pluto inspired tremendous apprehension among humans and was notably the most despised of the deities. He was often depicted as a “grim thief, robbing humans of their beloved” (Berens 122). His name was so feared that mortals seldom uttered it aloud. When he journeyed to the earth to seek new souls, he traveled in a golden chariot drawn by four pitch-black horses. Ovid captured this image vividly, noting that Proserpina’s kidnapper urged his steeds onward as he gripped the reins dyed dark (95). Pluto’s attributes included a two-pronged fork wielded as a scepter and, occasionally, a helmet crafted by the Cyclopes that allowed him to become invisible. This helmet featured prominently in numerous myths, including its use by Perseus to vanquish Medusa.
Cerberus and Charon
While entering the Underworld was straightforward, escaping it was a daunting challenge. Cerberus, the three-headed canine sentinel, guarded its entrance, instilling terror in all who dared approach. Not every visitor harbored fears, however; even Juno faced the beast without trepidation during her descent to consult the Furies. Hesiod described this menacing guardian as one who savors the flesh of souls attempting to flee (Hesiod, 48). For mortals confronting their fates, however, fear was all-consuming.
The journey across the river Styx, a dark waterway leading into the Underworld, was a crucial step for every soul. The Styx, one of five rivers within Hades, was accompanied by others including the Acheron, a conduit of sorrow, and the Lethe, known for granting forgetfulness. To cross the Styx, souls relied on Charon, a grim ferryman described by Virgil in the Aeneid, who would only transport those whose bodies had been properly buried, demanding a coin (obolus) tucked beneath their tongues.
The Afterlife and Judgment
Once a spirit arrived in Hades, their fate depended on the deeds of their life, assessed by three judges – Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aeacus. They weighed a soul’s actions using scales of justice, with Minos ultimately delivering judgment. Should a benefactor’s good deeds prevail, the spirit would find solace in the Elysian Fields; conversely, a majority of bad actions led to a horrifying existence in Tartarus.
Among the illustrious souls faced with judgment in the Underworld, the Furies played a vital role in punishing the guilty. The Fates, those who determined an individual’s life span, also held a position of great influence, as they presided near Pluto and dictated the course of mortal lives. Additionally, the Gorgons, horrifying beings with snakes for hair, struck terror into hearts, as anyone who gazed upon them was petrified into stone.
Tartarus and Notable Souls
Contained within Tartarus were notable figures condemned for various transgressions, including Tityus, who harbored disdain toward Juno and was perpetually tormented by vultures; Ixion, who flirted with Juno and was tethered to a fiery wheel; and Tantalus, whose deceit led to endless hunger and thirst, eternally out of reach of sustenance. Sisyphus, infamous for his cunning, was cursed to perform the futile task of rolling a boulder uphill, only for it to roll back down.
Orpheus’s journey into the Underworld to reclaim Eurydice, who succumbed to a serpent bite, illustrates the fragility of love. His enchanting music calmed Cerberus, but despite gaining Pluto’s consent for her return, Orpheus tragically lost Eurydice due to his inability to resist gazing back at her.
Worship and Representation
While no temples existed in Pluto’s honor, altars were fashioned for rituals performed by priests in dark attire, usually involving sacrifices of black sheep or, infrequently, humans under the cover of night. His representation flourished throughout medieval literature, notably within Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, where Pluto governs the fourth circle of Hell. The dwarf planet in our solar system, previously classified as the ninth planet, also carries his name, along with its moons named after figures associated with the Underworld.
