If you believe the ancient Greek poet Hesiod, who lived in the 8th century BC, then the god of the underworld Pluto had, as they say, a difficult childhood. Immediately after birth, he was eaten by his own father - the god of time Kronos. It cannot be said that he was a completely inveterate villain and did not like children, no, it was simply predicted to him that one of his sons, born from the lawful wife of Rhea, would one day overthrow him and sit on the reign. So he took reasonable, in his opinion, measures.
God brothers divide the world between them
How Pluto managed to get back into the world again is hard to say. Agree, because not everyone happens to visit not only the mother's womb, but also the father's. However, everything ended well, and, having reached adulthood, he, along with his siblings - Zeus and Poseidon, took part in the division of the world. By the way, in childhood, the god Pluto bore the name Hades, and received his real name only in the 5th century.
This section was preceded by a severe struggle with other contenders for world domination - six titan brothers and their six titanide sisters. So Pluto and his brothers had to fightwith superior enemy forces. But they won, and as a result, each received his share of the universe. Pluto-Hades got the underworld, it is also the kingdom of the dead. He was a very hospitable host, and there was no case that he refused to let anyone into his possessions. But no one came back from him.
God of fertility and underground riches
But not everything is so gloomy and sad. God Pluto in Greek, and later in Roman mythology, is also the god of underground we alth and fertility. It is in his possessions that countless placers of precious stones and metals are placed, and everything that then decorates our tables grows from the bowels of the earth. These riches had to be guarded, and Pluto personally de alt with this, not trusting anyone with such a responsible matter, for which he received honor, respect, and sacrifices in the form of black bulls from the ancient Greeks.
Forced (and not only) absences of Pluto
However, sometimes Pluto - the god of the underworld - left his possessions and rose to the surface of the earth. But, I must say, he did not please anyone with his appearance, as he did it with the sole purpose of capturing another victim into his fiefdom. The only exceptions were his “inspection” sorties - checking if there was a random crack somewhere in the ground through which a beam of light could penetrate into the dungeon. The owner did not like such liberties very much. True, evil tongues even then claimed that Pluto, a secret from his wife Persiphone, had some hobbies on the surface of the earth. Well, it's none of our business - let's not gossip.
The god Pluto usually went out with unusually impressive performance. Rushed on four black horses harnessed to a chariot. He ruled standing up to his full height and holding the reins in one hand, and a bident in the other, with which he hit any obstacle that arose on the way. By the way, he kidnapped his legal wife and brought him back during one such trip. Somewhere Persephone gaped (or pretended to) - and instantly found herself in the underworld. But, to his credit, he legalized the relationship and made her the queen of fertility.
Underworld
Ancient Greek poets describe the realm of the god Pluto very poetically. We learn from them that the famous river of the dead Styx flows there, through which old Charon ferries the souls of the dead on a boat, and from there a spring called Lethe originates, which, coming to the surface of the earth, plunges all living things into oblivion. In this realm, into which not a single ray of light penetrates, the gloomy fields of Hades are forever covered with wild tulips, and above them the souls of the dead rush with a sad rustle. Their moans are like the cry of the autumn wind.
A terrible inhabitant of the underworld - the three-headed dog Cerberus - guards the kingdom of the god Pluto. His appearance is terrible. On the neck of the monster, snakes hiss with a hiss, and the toothy mouths are ready to devour anyone who disturbs the peace of the dungeon. He lets everyone in, but has not yet let anyone out of this world, where there is neither joy nor sadness.
Underworld Society
According to the testimony of all the same poets who saw everything so well in a kingdom where there is noa single ray of light, the society there is quite numerous. In the center, on a golden throne, sit the god Pluto and his wife Persephone, and at the foot are the judges Minos and Rhadamanthus. Above the heads of those seated, the god of death Tanat hovers, spreading his black wings. In his hands is a smashing sword, and next to him are his inseparable companions Kera, gloomy maidens, spirits of death.
Here, as a servant, the goddess of vengeance Erinia, and next to them - a handsome young man with a handful of poppy heads in his hands. This young god is called Hypnos. He knows how to make a drink from poppies, from which both people and gods fall into a dream. However, this does not surprise us. The society is supplemented by the three-headed goddess Rekasha with her constant companions - ghosts and monsters. She also sometimes rises to the surface of the earth and, walking at night, sends terrible dreams to people.
The immortal gods of Olympus
Centuries passed, the ancient Greek Hades was replaced by the Roman god Pluto. Over time, he also sunk into oblivion, and paganism gave way to true faith. But the legends about the ancient inhabitants of Olympus still fascinate our ears, as immortal as the waves of the Mediterranean Sea, under the sound of which they were born.
