Pluto

**Pluto** was the ruler of the underworld within Classical mythology and literature.

## Overview

### Relation to other deities

Pluto (or Ploutōn) was originally an epithet to the Greek god Hades, the ruler of the underworld and brother of Zeus and Poseidon, which referred to his more positive aspect as a the god of the underground wealth and even some agricultural aspects. Another greek deity Pluto was associated the figure of Plutus, the god of wealth, who was either the son of Hades and his wife Persephone or of Demeter and the mortal Iasion.

In Roman literature Hades/Pluto was often identified with the figure of Dīs Pater (or Dīs) the Roman god of the underworld and of underground wealth, with Pluto becoming an alternative name to this deity here as well. Through this Greek and Roman syncretism Pluto also became the brother of Jupiter and Neptune (corresponding to Zeus and Poseidon), and the abductor of Proserpina, which was adapted from the abduction of Persephone.

Other deities associated with Pluto were:

* Another deity Pluto was syncretised with another Roman god called Orcus, who was also associated with the underworld, though much is not known about this deity.
* He was also identified with the Graeco-Egyptian deity Serapis, being connected to the underworld, wealth and agricultural fertility, who was paired with the Greco-Roman version of the goddess Isis, who had become the counterpart of Proserpina.

### Pluto in demonology

With the rise of Christianity in Europe, both Pluto and Dīs, alongside other pagan gods such as Ashtoreth, Baal, Chemosh, Dagon, Pan, Nergal and Tammuz, were re-classified as fallen angels or demons. Being a god of the underworld and wealth, became associated with the figure of Satan and other demons. Over time he became one of the many Princes of Hell, alongside other demonised figures such as Beelzebub and Mammon.

## Pop Culture

* Pluto appeared as the Roman variant of the Greek god Hades within *The Heroes of Olympus*, the sequel-series of the *Percy Jackson and the Olympians*-books, notably in *The Son of Neptune* and *The House of Hades*. He serves as the father of one of the series main characters, Hazel Levesque.
* Pluto appeared in the universe of Hellboy, where he is ancient fallen Watcher-angel who was the first ruler of Hell, who would later be replaced by Satan. He is referenced by characters throughout the events of *Hellboy in Hell*-series, and was briefly seen in its last issue, *For Whom the Bell Tolls*.
* Pluto appears in the article of SCP-4661 within the universe of the SCP Foundation. Within the article he appears in the Addendums 4661.5 and 4661.6, and is presented as a mischievous demonic entity.

## References

1. ↑ Grimal, Pierre. *The dictionary of classical mythology*
2. ↑ Castrén, Paavo and Leena Pietilä-Castrén. *Antiikin käsikirja*
3. ↑ Tanha, Sanaa. *Pluto, Lord of the Underworld: an analysis*
4. ↑ Stambaugh, John. *Sarapis under the Early Ptolemies*
5. ↑ Castrén, Paavo and Leena Pietilä-Castrén. *Antiikin käsikirja*
6. ↑ Grimal, Pierre. *The dictionary of classical mythology*
7. ↑ Stambaugh, John. *Sarapis under the Early Ptolemies*
8. ↑ Plancy, Jacques Collin de. *Dictionnaire Infernal*
9. ↑ Bane, Theresa. *Encyclopedia Of Demons In World Religions And Cultures*