Plouton: God of gold and graves

Plouton/Hades is enthroned in the palace beside a standing Persephone who holds a four-headed Eleusinian torch. The god wields a bird-tipped staff (edited image). Credit: Marcus Cyron. CC-BY-SA-2.0

Plouton is not your average ancient god. He is the mafia boss of the Olympian pantheon. He ruled the underbelly of the ancient world with a grip as tight as the gold buried beneath the earth.

As lord of the underworld and god of wealth, Plouton’s influence extends from the darkest corners of the afterlife to the hidden treasures of the earth. His dual role balanced power, wealth, and the inevitable end that even gods cannot escape, illustrating that life and death are two sides of the same coin.

God of the underworld

Plouton, or Pluto in Roman mythology, had a diverse job description. To begin with, he was the god who ruled the Underworld, a place where the dead went after their time on earth.

The ancient Greeks depicted the Underworld as a dark place where souls lingered after death—not quite heaven, but not quite hell either. Plouton, however, was not evil. He was more of a strict manager who made sure that every soul found its place.

This was no ordinary Underworld either. It was a realm filled with different areas for different souls. Plouton had to keep everything in order, making sure that the virtuous ended up in Elysium, the morally neutral in the Asphodel Meadows, and the wicked in Tartarus.

He kept the peace in a place where no one wanted to be. It wasn’t all gloom, however, for Plouton’s Underworld was also the source of all earthly riches.

Looking for a god in finance

Besides being the lord of death, Plouton was responsible for money. Plouton’s name literally means wealth. The connection between Plouton and wealth came from the idea that all wealth, whether crops or gold, came from beneath the earth.

While Plouton was busy managing the dead, he also kept an eye on the ancient stock exchange, the treasures hidden underground.

This made him a god who was both feared and revered. Farmers prayed to him for good harvests and miners for rich veins of ore. He was not just about doom and the gloom of death. He was also the bringer of abundance.

The cornucopia, often depicted in his hand, symbolizes this dual role. It is a reminder that he had the power over life and death, even over the food that sustains humanity.

What did Plouton symbolize?

Plouton/Hades & Cerberus in the Archaeological Museum of Crete. Credit: Aviad Bublil. CC-BY-3.0

Plouton’s symbols tell you a lot about his character. He is usually depicted as a solemn, bearded figure with a scepter, a sign of his authority over the dead. This is not someone who takes his job lightly.

The cornucopia, overflowing with fruits and grains, is another important symbol, directly connecting him to the idea of ​​wealth and abundance. These symbols are not just for show. They represent the balance he maintained between life and death.

Another symbol often associated with Plouton is the bident, a two-pronged fork that distinguishes him from his brother Poseidon, who wields a trident. While Poseidon rules the seas, Plouton rules the depths of the earth.

And let’s not forget Cerberus, the many-headed dog that guards the gates of the Underworld. Cerberus’ presence underscores Plouton’s power; no one enters or leaves without his permission.

These symbols together make Plouton a figure both respected and feared, one who controls not only death but also the hidden riches of the earth. If his symbols did not command respect, his stories certainly did.

Mythical role

The Rape (Abduction) of Proserpina (Persephone) (Joseph Heintz the Elder, 1564–1609). Wikimedia. Public domain

Plouton may not have had as many fearless stories as some of the other gods, but he played a crucial role in some of the most important myths. Take the story of Persephone, for example.

Plouton fell in love with Persephone and abducted her to the Underworld. This act drove her mother, Demeter, into a deep depression, causing the earth to become barren.

The ancient Greeks used this myth to explain the changing seasons. Persephone’s return to earth marked the beginning of spring, bringing life and renewal.

This story shows how intertwined Plouton was with the natural world. He was not just a god of death; he was a god of the cycles of life.

Without him, the seasons would not change and the earth would not yield any crops. He was a reminder that death and life are part of the same continuum, one giving rise to the other.

The Realm of Plouton

Plouton’s Underworld was a complex place with different areas for different types of souls. The virtuous went to Elysium, a paradise where they could enjoy eternal peace.

The morally neutral souls ended up in the Asphodel Meadows, a place of dark existence, neither pleasant nor painful.

The villains were sent to Tartarus, a hellish pit of torment. Plouton made sure that every soul ended up where it belonged, thus maintaining the balance of the afterlife.

This was not just a grim task. It was a vital task. Without Plouton, the Underworld would fall into chaos and the natural order of life and death would be disrupted.

His empire reflected the ancient belief that death was not the end, but a continuation of the soul’s journey. This belief in an ordered afterlife helped the ancient Greeks understand the world around them.

Plouton: god of gold and graves

Plouton’s dual dominion over fortune and death is an ancient reminder that the riches sought are a few shovels from the earth that will eventually claim it all. His qualities inspire a kind of memorial of deatha reflection on mortality that calls for a rethinking of the ruthless pursuit of wealth.

Plouton’s influence emphasizes the futility of material wealth and underscores the ultimate truth: death is the great equalizer, affecting the rich and the poor alike.