Hades and Pluto are two names for the same Greek god of the underworld, but the names carry different meanings and cultural baggage. Hades is the ancient Greek name for both the god and his realm, while Pluto (Plouton) is a later Greek epithet meaning “wealth-giver,” which the Romans adopted as their primary name for him.
Origins of the Two Names
The name Hades (Ἅιδης) appears in the earliest Greek texts, including Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey (8th century BCE). Its etymology is uncertain but is often linked to aïdēs, meaning “unseen” or “invisible,” fitting a god who rules the hidden world below. In Homer, Hades is a shadowy figure who rarely leaves his domain, and his name is sometimes used interchangeably with the place itself—a practice that continued throughout antiquity.
Plouton (Πλούτων) emerges later, appearing in Greek literature from the 5th century BCE onward. It derives from ploutos, meaning “wealth,” because precious metals and fertile seeds come from beneath the earth. The philosopher Heraclitus reportedly made a pun on this, saying that Hades and Dionysus, the god of wine and vegetation, are the same god—both associated with the earth’s bounty. By the classical period, Plouton became a euphemistic title, used to avoid saying the dreaded name “Hades” aloud.
The Roman Connection: Pluto and Dis Pater
When Roman religion absorbed Greek mythology, they identified the Greek god with their own underworld deities. The primary Roman name became Pluto, a direct borrowing of the Greek Plouton. The Romans also used Dis Pater (“Father of Riches”), a native Italic god of the underworld who was later conflated with Pluto. In Roman literature, especially Virgil’s Aeneid and Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Pluto is a stern but dignified ruler of the dead, more approachable than the grim Hades of Greek epic.
Interestingly, the Romans did not adopt the Greek name “Hades” for their god; instead, they used Orcus for the underworld itself and its punisher of broken oaths. Over time, Orcus also became a name for the god, especially in informal contexts. The Etruscan god Aita, who clearly derives from Greek Hades, shows that the original name did travel to Italy, but it never gained the same prominence as Pluto.
Same God, Different Roles
Both names refer to the same deity: the eldest son of Cronus and Rhea, brother of Zeus and Poseidon, who drew the lot to rule the underworld after the Titans were defeated. He is married to Persephone (Proserpina in Roman myth), whom he abducted to be his queen. He is not the devil or a tempter; in Greek and Roman religion, he is a just, if stern, ruler who maintains order in his realm.
The difference lies in emphasis. As Hades, he is the dark, unyielding lord of the dead, rarely appearing in myths and never welcomed by mortals. As Pluto, he is the giver of mineral wealth and agricultural abundance, a god who can be propitiated with offerings. This dual aspect is not a contradiction but a reflection of the ancient view that the earth contains both the dead and the seeds of new life.
Hades as a Place vs. Hades as a Person
A common confusion arises because “Hades” in Greek can mean either the god or the location. In the New Testament, for example, “Hades” is used for the realm of the dead, not the god. Similarly, in Homer, phrases like “the house of Hades” refer to the place, while “Hades” alone often denotes the god. The Romans avoided this ambiguity by using Pluto for the god and Orcus or Inferi for the underworld itself.
This dual usage has carried into modern English. When people say “Hades” today, they usually mean the underworld, not the deity. “Pluto” almost always refers to the god, except when it refers to the dwarf planet—named after the Roman god in 1930 by an 11-year-old girl, Venetia Burney, who suggested the name to her grandfather.
How the Names Are Used in Modern Culture
In modern media, both names appear, often with different connotations. In Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, the character is called Hades and is portrayed as a brooding, misunderstood god. In Disney’s Hercules (1997), the villain is named Hades, a fast-talking, flame-skinned schemer—a far cry from the ancient depiction. In contrast, Pluto appears in more literary or scholarly contexts, such as Dante’s Inferno, where the demon guarding the circle of the avaricious is called Pluto (though Dante may be conflating the god with the Roman god of wealth, Plutus).
Video games and pop culture often mix the two. The Kid Icarus series features a character named Hades, while the Shin Megami Tensei games include both Hades and Pluto as separate demons. This reflects a common misconception that they are distinct entities, when in fact they are one god with two names.
Which Name Should You Use?
For historical accuracy, use “Hades” when referring to the Greek god or the underworld in Greek contexts, and “Pluto” when referring to the Roman god or in Roman contexts. If you are writing about the deity in general, either name is acceptable, but be consistent. In casual conversation, “Hades” is more common for the god, while “Pluto” may sound more formal or literary.
When discussing the underworld as a place, use “Hades” (e.g., “He descended into Hades”), not “Pluto.” If you want to emphasize the god’s role as a giver of wealth, use “Pluto” (e.g., “Pluto’s riches”). For modern references, such as the Disney character or the planet, use the name that the work itself uses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hades the same as Pluto?
Yes, they are the same god. Hades is the Greek name, and Pluto is the Roman name, derived from the Greek epithet Plouton. Both refer to the ruler of the underworld in classical mythology.
Why did the Romans call him Pluto instead of Hades?
The Romans adopted the Greek epithet Plouton (“wealth-giver”) rather than the name Hades, possibly because Hades had negative connotations of death and the unseen, while Pluto emphasized his beneficent aspect as a giver of agricultural and mineral wealth. They also had their own native god Dis Pater, who was later merged with Pluto.
Is Hades the devil?
No. Hades/Pluto is not a devil figure in Greek or Roman religion. He is a just ruler of the dead, not a tempter or punisher of sinners. The concept of a devil as an evil being is a later Christian development that has no basis in classical mythology.
Why do some stories use “Hades” for the place and “Pluto” for the god?
This is a modern convention to avoid confusion, but it is not historically accurate. In ancient Greek, “Hades” could mean both the god and the underworld. The Romans used “Pluto” for the god and “Orcus” or “Inferi” for the place. Modern writers often adopt this distinction for clarity.
Is the dwarf planet Pluto named after the god?
Yes, the dwarf planet Pluto, discovered in 1930, was named after the Roman god of the underworld. The name was suggested by Venetia Burney, an 11-year-old schoolgirl, and it was chosen because the planet is so far from the sun that it is in perpetual darkness, like the underworld.
Related
- Elysium in Mythology: Fields of the Blessed
- Ajax in Mythology: Two Greek Heroes Explained
- Tantalus in Mythology: Crime and Eternal Punishment
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