Plutus, the Greek god of wealth, personifies abundance that springs from the earth—crops, minerals, and material prosperity. Unlike Plouton (another name for Hades), who rules the underworld and the wealth beneath the earth, Plutus governs the visible, cultivated wealth that sustains life. Born of Demeter, goddess of agriculture, Plutus is a child of the harvest, often carried in the arms of Eirene (Peace), who protects and distributes his gifts.
Though his power lies in riches, Plutus does not choose who prospers. In fact, later myths describe him as blind, winged, and lame—blind so he cannot judge, winged because wealth comes and goes, and lame because it arrives slowly but departs quickly.
Symbolism
Plutus symbolizes agricultural wealth, earthly fortune, and the unpredictability of economic success. Artists often depict him as a cherubic child holding a cornucopia or in the lap of a maternal goddess. In sculptures, he appears either as a well-fed infant or a youthful boy, often near Demeter, Tyche, or Eirene.
His blindness reinforces the idea that wealth is distributed without moral judgment, randomly and without justice.
Appearances in Myth
- Hesiod’s Theogony: Plutus is born when Demeter lies with the mortal Iasion in a thrice-ploughed field—a symbolic act of agricultural fertility. Their union produces the god of wealth, linking him directly to the labor of the earth.
- Aristophanes’ Plutus: In this comedic play, the god is blind and unfairly distributes wealth. The main character, Chremylus, restores his sight, believing this will lead to a more just and moral society. Chaos follows, showing the complexities of wealth and morality.
- Association with Other Gods: Plutus is often depicted with Eirene (Peace), reinforcing the idea that prosperity thrives in stable times. He also appears with Tyche (Fortune), sometimes indistinguishably so, in later Roman-influenced art and inscriptions.
Worship and Cult
Plutus did not have a widespread independent cult, but his imagery was prominent in art and altars associated with Demeter, Hades (Plouton), and civic deities like Eirene and Tyche. People offered thanks for good harvests, success in trade, or unexpected gains by invoking his name.
In Athens, particularly during the 4th century BCE, statues of Eirene holding Plutus reminded citizens that peace—not war—produced lasting prosperity.
Modern Appearances
Language and Legacy
- The word plutocracy (rule by the wealthy) comes from Plutus’s name, showing how his image evolved into a symbol of power and inequality.
Literature and Art
- Renaissance and Enlightenment art often revisited the trio of Peace, Wealth, and Justice using Plutus as a figure of innocence or irony.
- Aristophanes’ play Plutus remains a sharp political satire of wealth and justice.