Pluto (mythology)
Pluto is the god of the underworld in Roman mythology. The equivalent of him in Greek mythology is Hades , although Pluto is more benign. Regarding the etymology of the name, it is confused with that of Pluto, the Greek god of wealth.
Pluto and Hades differ in character, but they are not distinct figures and share two dominant myths. In Greek cosmogony, the god was given rule of the underworld in a tripartite division of sovereignty over the world, with his brother Zeus ruling the sky and his other brother Poseidon ruling over the sea. His central narrative in the myth is about him kidnapping Persephone to be his wife and queen of his kingdom. Pluto as the name of the ruler of the underworld first appears in Greek literature of the period. classical, in the works of the Athenian playwrights and the philosopher Plato, who is the main Greek source on its meaning. Under the name of Pluto, the god appears in other myths in a secondary role, mainly as the possessor of a quest item, and especially in the descent of Orpheus or other heroes into the underworld.
Plūtō (genitive Plūtōnis) is the romanized form of the Greek Pluto. The Roman equivalent of Pluto is Dis Pater, whose name is most often taken to mean "Rich Dad" and is perhaps a direct translation of "Plouton". Pluto was also identified with the dark Roman Orcus, as Hades the name of a god of the underworld and the underworld as a place. Pluto (Pluton in French and German, Plutone in Italian) becomes the most common name for the classical ruler of the underworld in later literature western and other art forms.
Myth
Pluto was the son of Saturn and Ops, and the husband of Proserpina, whom he kidnapped to marry him. Proserpina's mother, Ceres, was so grieved that she caused the winter.
His palace is located in the middle of Tartarus, where as sovereign he oversees the administration of his state and dictates its inflexible laws. His subjects, light and miserable shadows, are as numerous as the waves of the sea and the stars of the firmament: everything that Mors, death, harvests on Earth falls back under the scepter of this god, increasing his wealth or becoming his prey. From the day he inaugurated his kingdom, not one of his ministers violated his orders, not one of his subjects attempted a rebellion. Of the three sovereign gods who control the world, he is the only one who never has to fear insubordination or disobedience and whose authority is universally recognized until the end of time.
Worship
The Chosen Eight
The Romans placed Pluto not only among the twelve great gods but also among the eight chosen gods, who were the only ones allowed to be depicted in gold, silver, and ivory.
In Rome there were victimizing priests devoted only to Pluto. Like the Greek Hades, only dark-colored victims were sacrificed to him and always in an even number, while odd numbers were sacrificed to other gods. The sacrifices were completely reduced to ashes and the priest reserved nothing, neither for the people nor for himself. Before the immolations, a hole was dug to collect the blood and the wine from the libations was poured. During the sacrifices, the priests kept their heads uncovered and absolute silence was recommended to the assistants, more out of respect than fear of the god.
In Sicily, the Syracusans sacrificed two black bulls to her every year near the fountain of Ciane, where tradition placed the abduction of Proserpina. In Rome, on June 20, her feast day, she only opened the temple of Pluto. Animals with dark fur (sheep or pigs) were sacrificed to him and all those sentenced to death were dedicated to his inflexible anger.
Temples and religion
On Mount Soratte in Italy, Pluto shared the honors of a common temple with Apollo. Thus, the Faliscans, inhabitants of the place, believed that they should honor both the underground heat and that of the day star.
The inhabitants of Lazio and the surroundings of Crotona had dedicated two to the king of hell as an unhappy number. For the same reason, the Romans consecrated the second month of the year to him, and in it the second specific day was designated to offer sacrifices to him.
Character
Of all the gods, Pluto was the most ruthless and feared by men, who described him as adamastos ('inflexible') or stygeros ('terrible').. He was feared for his ugliness and the harshness of his features. Although he was adamant, he was considered to be the fairest of all the gods, since sooner or later any mortal being ended up arriving in his kingdom, regardless of his class, rank or place of origin.
He was later considered a benefactor god, dispenser of wealth. According to Pausanias, Epimenides had had his statue placed in the temples of the Eumenides and, contrary to usual custom, it was presented to him in a pleasing manner and attitude.
Attributes
He is often depicted wearing a dog-skin helmet given to him by the Cyclops that renders him invisible and which he never took off. He also used to be represented with a bident or scepter.
The attribute that usually appears before him is the cypress, whose dark foliage expresses melancholy and pain. The priests of him made crowns and sowed their clothes in the sacrifices.
Representative Animals
The three-headed dog (Cerberus) and four black horses.
Representations
Pluto is often depicted with a thick beard and a stern air. He often wears his helmet, a gift from the Cyclops and which had the power to turn him invisible. Sometimes he girds his forehead with a crown of ebony, maidenhair, or daffodil. When he sits on his throne of ebony or brimstone he carries in his right hand a black scepter, a pitchfork or a pike. He sometimes holds keys in his hands, to indicate that the doors of life are closed forever for those who arrive in his kingdom.
He is also depicted in his chariot drawn by four black horses.
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