Pluto, the Roman god of the Underworld, has an intricate mythology akin to his Greek counterpart, Hades. Choosing to reside in the realm of the dead rather than participate on Olympus with the other deities, Pluto embodies themes of life, death, and the human fear of the unknown.
Family and Divine Hierarchy
Born to the Titans Saturn (Cronus) and Ops (Rhea), Pluto is the sibling of Jupiter (Zeus) and Neptune (Poseidon). After overthrowing the Titans, Jupiter took his place as the ruler of the sky and the world. He allocated the dominion over the seas to Neptune and designated Pluto as the ruler of the Underworld, including Tartarus, also known as Hades. As the sovereign of this dark realm, Pluto commanded the dead, and Mercury (Hermes), the messenger god, was tasked with delivering souls to their afterlife.
Pluto wielded not only immense control but also evoked deep fear among mortals. He was looked upon with apprehension and revulsion, as he governed the fate of souls.
Court of Pluto and Proserpina
Reigning from a throne of ebony, Pluto’s queen was Proserpina (Persephone), albeit one captured and often unwilling. Taken against her will, Proserpina spent part of the year in the Underworld, a fate she suffered as she reigned over this gloomy domain. Ceres (Demeter), her mother, grieved during her daughter’s absence and learned through the river nymph Arethusa about Proserpina’s sorrowful existence in the underworld.
Attributes and Domain
Pluto’s presence was ominous; mortals were hesitant to even utter his name. He traveled in a chariot drawn by four black horses in search of souls, often depicted wearing a helmet crafted by the Cyclopes, which granted invisibility. This helmet was wielded by figures such as Perseus when battling formidable foes.
Guardians of the Underworld
The path to Pluto’s domain was protected by Cerberus, the ferocious three-headed canine with venomous fangs, instilling dread in any who approached. Still, some, like the goddess Juno, faced Cerberus without trepidation, summoning the frightening Furies within.
The journey across the Underworld commenced with the crossing of the Styx, a river representing darkness. One of five rivers in the Underworld, it was an essential barrier that souls had to cross. The ferryman Charon, described as decrepit and unclean, transported the deceased who had been properly buried. Without a coin known as an obolus placed beneath their tongue, souls faced a century-long wait before being able to cross.
Judging the Souls
Upon arrival in the Underworld, each spirit’s fate was determined by the trinity of judges: Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aeacus. These judges weighed the soul’s earthly deeds against each other, enforcing divine justice with the scales of Themis. Where deserving souls found solace in the Elysian Fields, those burdened with guilt faced the agonizing abyss of Tartarus.
The Instruments of Punishment
To maintain order, Pluto called upon the Furies, the Fates, and the Gorgons. The Furies were tasked with punishing transgressors, relentlessly tormenting them. The Fates had control over mortal destinies, determining the length and course of life. The Gorgons, fearsome creatures with serpents for hair, transformed anyone who met their gaze into stone, portraying a vivid representation of terror.
Sinners in Tartarus
Tartarus also served as the prison for those guilty of grave sins. Tityus, chained and subjected to eternal torment, represented disrespect towards Juno. Ixion was punished for his advances, while Tantalus, after deceiving the gods, faced dire consequences marked by endless hunger and thirst. Sisyphus, condemned to roll a boulder up a hill, eternally suffered the futility of his task.
The tale of Orpheus and Eurydice signifies love’s profound yet tragic nature. Orpheus ventured into the Underworld, using his music to soothe Cerberus and ultimately earn the chance to reclaim his beloved, albeit with a devastating consequence.
Worship and Representation
While there were no grand temples for Pluto, altars existed where evening sacrifices were conducted by priests clad in black. The legacy of Pluto persists through literature, notably in Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, and even in modern astronomy with the naming of the dwarf planet Pluto, along with its moons, after epic elements of this myth.
