Old Gods In A Modern World

But I also think we do a great disservice to the women of the ancient world by not remembering how this story, in that form, mirrored their very real pain. I’ve been thinking recently about how we can tell that women participated in the formation of their culture’s folklore because women’s trauma is embedded in it. (In Greek terms, the stories of Leto and Alcmene very clearly come out of women’s traumatic experiences with childbirth, and there are elements of women’s traumatic experiences of sexual assault embedded in, for example, the stories of Daphne or Callisto or Artemis and Actaeon) And the story of Persephone comes out of women’s experiences of being permanently separated from their mothers and daughters at marriage. (See also this post from @gardenvarietycrime.​)

For an ancient woman sending her daughter off to be married, knowing that she will see her only rarely and that the odds of death in childbirth were high, Persephone meant something. For an ancient girl leaving her mother and her entire world for a man she may never have met knowing the same, Persephone meant something. I do think a lot of the conflation of death and marriage in the ancient world comes out of this: that a girl is dead to her mother and her family whether she leaves them to go to a husband’s house or the house of Hades. Maybe it’s a consolation to know that someone else has done this before you, to know that a goddess once lost her daughter and a goddess once lost her mother the same way you are losing yours. And that they survived it.

Even today one of our most popular wedding songs says “Today the mother gets separated from the daughter”. (“Σήμερα αποχωρίζεται η μάνα από την κόρη”)

I know that lightning happens when there are more electrons in the clouds then there are protons on the ground and that it strikes randomly. I can still believe that Zeus guides it down on its way from the sky.

I know that earthquakes happen due to the shifting teutonic plates grinding against each other. I can still that Poseidon shapes where and how they strike.

I know that the moon and sun rise and set because of the earth's rotation. I can still believe that Helios and Selene are the Moon and Sun and that Apollo and Artemis guide them.

Iron in her blood, steel in her gaze  She is the dread queen,  Brandishing her strength in will, strength of heart.  She who punishes those who have committed injustices,  Defends those who have been wronged.  Heavy is her crown but she wears it with her head held high  For all of fiery autumn and savage winter.

She looks upon the lost souls with honeyed compassion.  For the ones that stretch their arms out to her,  She lends her warm hand,  She lends her warmth to their aching loneliness  With a smile that shines bright as the sun  from the solemn palace of the underworld.

Who is Persephone?

Known as Prosperina to the Romans, Persephone is a Greek goddess of spring and the queen of the underworld, ruling alongside Hades. Due to her mythology, in antiquity, she is closely related to all aspects of womanhood and female initiation, including girlhood, marriage, and childbearing. (This is an ancient view of what womanhood means and does not reflect my personal views on the topic).

Parents and Siblings

Persephone’s parentage varies depending on who you ask

Demeter (her mother in the most popular variation)

Zeus (father in the most popular variation)

other variations include:

Styx (and Zeus)

Rhea (and Zeus)

Posiden (and Demeter)

She has no full blood siblings, but has plenty of half-siblings from both Demeter and Zeus, most notably:

Arion (brother)

Corybas (brother)

Plutus (brother)

all from Demeter, and

Apollo

Artemis

Athena

Dionysus

Heracles

Perseus

and many more from Zeus.

Lovers or Partners

Hades

Adonis (in some tales, in others he is more of an adoptive son to her; in some tales, he’s both. Greek gods, am I right?)

Children

In Orphic myth her children are

Melinoe

Zagreus (later turned Dionysus)

The Erinyes

Epithets

Kore, Kora, or Cora - the maiden

Nestis - the fasting one

Despoina (literally "the mistress of the house") in Arcadia.

Hagne, "pure", originally a goddess of the springs in Messenia.

Melindia or Melinoia (meli, "honey"), as the consort of Hades, in Hermione.

Malivina

Melitodes

Aristi cthonia, "the best chthonic".

Praxidike, "subterranean queen. The Eumenides' source [mother], fair-haired, whose frame proceeds from Zeus' ineffable and secret seeds."

Agauē, “venerable”

Arrētos, “she who must not be named”

As a vegetation goddess, she was called:

Kore Soteira, "the savior maiden", in Megalopolis.

Neotera, "the younger", in Eleusis.

Kore of Demeter Hagne in the Homeric hymn.

Kore memagmeni, "the mixed daughter" (bread).

Demeter and her daughter Persephone together were usually called:

The goddesses, are often distinguished as "the older" and "the younger" in Eleusis.

Demeters, in Rhodes and Sparta

The thesmophoroi, "the legislators" in the Thesmophoria.

The Great Goddesses, in Arcadia.

The mistresses in Arcadia.

Karpophoroi, "the bringers of fruit", in Tegea of Arcadia.

Notes

Persephone’s most popular story, the abduction of Persephone, is possibly derived from the ancient Sumeria myth of Ereshkigal, goddess of the underworld who was abducted by Kur, the primeval dragon of Sumerian mythology, who forced her to become ruler of the underworld against her will. Keep in mind that there are many versions and interpretations of this myth.

Another story about Persephone involves her interaction with a Nymph named Minthe, who used to be one of Hades’ lovers. Minthe boasted that she was more beautiful than Persephone and would win Hades back. Persephone didn’t take kindly to this boasting and stomped Minthe into the ground, turning her into a mint plant.

Other popular stories are Adonis and Persephone, one creation myth, as well as many more.

It’s possible that Persphone is an old Cthonic local deity of agricultural communities that was absorbed into Greek mythos.

Persephone played a part in many different festivals and rituals in the Greek and Roman world. Many festivals were held in which people would reenact her abduction and her being found again by Demeter. In Syracuse, there would be an annual sacrifice of small animals and a public drowning of bulls.

Among the cults dedicated to Persephone, the largest one was located in Sicily and Southern Italy.

For her connection to the Underworld, Persephone is often mentioned in curse tablets and on gold leaves that were buried with people who had how to act in the afterlife inscribed on them.

Modern Deity Work

Correspondences

Due to being a popular deity that was widely worshiped, the ancient correspondences of Persphone vary. Some symbols and attributes were more popular than others, and some were localized or cult-specific. Regardless, any traditional or historic correspondences will be marked with a (T).

Rocks/Stone/Crystals

Ruby

Quartz

Pink Tourmaline

Herbs/Plants

Poppies

Pomegranates

Corn

Grain

Asphodels

Willow

Animals

Pigs

Roosters

Symbols

Scepter

Torch

Festivals and Rituals

Thesmophoria is a three-day festival celebrated by most of the Greek world; though the female cult of Demeter and Persephone were known to celebrate it more. This festival was probably celebrated around October-November. In some places, this festival or certain aspects of it were exclusive to women.

Chthonia, where four old women would be chosen to sacrifice four heifers with sickles. This festival honored Demeter in connection to Persephone.

Offerings

Honey (T)

Art (statues, pinakes, etc) (T)

Pomegranate (full fruit, the seeds, or juice)

Flowers, especially wild spring flowers!

Floral scents or like perfumes, oils, or incense

Any of the items or depictions of the items listed above

Wine

Bones

Chocolate (some say specifically dark chocolate)

Acts of Devotion

Dancing to a song that reminds you of her (T)

Creating any art that reminds you of her (T)

Tend to wildflowers or your garden if you have one, or even houseplants.

Celebrate the festivals/holidays mentioned above

As always, your personal correspondences when interacting with a deity will mean much more than anything you find online, but this isn’t a bad place to start!

References and Further Reading

Persephone - Mythopedia (they also have a pretty huge reference list so please go take a peak!)

Persephone and the Seasons - Hellenic.org.au

Hymn for Persephone by Sappho (vis Sacredtexts)

Persephone - Theoi Project

Persophone - World History

Out of all the gods in the greek pantheon, Haides has the strongest reputation for being closed off and uninvolved with humans. After all, he lives in the underworld and rarely, if ever, leaves his realm.

However, after thinking about greek mythology obsessively (as I always do), I realized that there is a pattern of Hades helping heroes/mortals. He doesn’t help them directly like Athena or Hermes do because he’s always in the underworld, but he does aid mortals even when there’s no obligation for him to do so. Here are some examples:

Hades lending his helmet of invisibility to Perseus so he can slay the gorgon

Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. 36 - 42 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :

“These Nymphai had in their possession winged sandals and the kibisis, which they say was a knapsack.--Pindaros and Hesiodos in the Shield of Herakles, describe Perseus as follows : ‘The head of a terrible monster, Gorgo, covered all his back, and a kibisis held it.’ It is called a kibisis because clothing and food are placed in it.--They also had the helmet of Haides. […] Perseus then placed the head in the kibisis and headed back again, as the Gorgones pursued him through the air. But the helmet kept him hidden, and made it impossible for them to identify him.”

Hades giving his hound to Heracles so he can fulfill his labors and letting him free his prisoners

Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. 125 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :

“Herakles asked Plouton (Pluton) [Haides] for Kerberos (Cerberus), and was told to take the hound if he could overpower it without using any of the weapons he had brought with him."”

Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 79 (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :

“When Hercules came to lead out the three-headed dog, they [Peirithoos and Theseus, trapped in the underworld] begged his promise of protection. He obtained the favor from Pluto [Haides], and brought them out unharmed.”

Hades and Persephone allowing Orpheus to leave the underworld with his deceased wife

Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. 14 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :

“When his [Orpheus'] wife Eurydike (Eurydice) died from a snake-bite, Orpheus descended into Haides' realm with the desire to bring her back up to earth, and persuade Plouton (Pluton) [Hades] to release her. Plouton promised to do this if on the return trip Orpheus would not turn round before reaching his own home. But he disobeyed, and turned to look at his wife, who thereupon went back down again.”

Ovid, Metamorphoses 10. 8 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :

“[…] the queen [Persephone] and he whose sceptre rules the underworld could not deny the prayer, and called Eurydice.”

Hades and Persephone granting Odysseus’ wish

Homer, Odyssey 10. 135 ff (trans. Shewring) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) :

“Then I called to my comrades and bade them flay and burn the sheep that lay there slain with the pitiless bronze, and to make prayer to the gods, to mighty Hades and dread Persephone.” (Immediately after this, Hades and Persephone answer Odysseus’ prayer)

Bonus: Hades lends Hermes his helm of invisibility so he can protect himself while battling the giants

Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. 34 - 38 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :

“Hermes, who was wearing the helmet of Haides, killed Hippolytos in the course of the battle, and Artemis killed Aigaion (Aegaeon).”

My thoughts

So if Hades answers prayers, lets other gods and mortals borrow his most valuable weapon, and even breaks his own rules (no one can leave the underworld) to grant other people’s wishes, how can we call him closed off? From this pattern of behavior, it seems like he’s extremely caring and generous . We have to kill the myth that chthonic deities are unresponsive and apathetic.

this post includes zeus, hera, poseidon, hestia, hephaestus, dionysus, ares, demeter, and athena. for part 1 including hades, persephone, artemis, apollo, aphrodite, hermes, and hekate click here.

keep in mind that typical offerings to any god includes meat, wine, grain (usually barley), honey, and incense (myrrh and frankincense would be period appropriate), but i'm listing some specific offerings that can be given if you'd like

colors can be used for candles, banners, decor, whatever you want

ZEUS

Colors: white, blue, and grey for association with the heavens, yellow and black for association with storms. gold because he's the King of the Gods

Offerings: rain water, oak, olives/olive branches/olive leaves, vervain, cinnamon, laurel. images of himself or lightning bolts are particularly recommended for Zeus

Crystals: diamonds, gold (i think pyrite, aka fool's gold, would be offensive), turquoise, lapis lazuli, celestite, iron/steel, any quartz

Animals: eagle, bull

POSEIDON

Colors: blue and white for association with the seas, gray for association with storms, brown for association with the earth/earthquakes

Offerings: coffee, mint, ocean water, salt, seashells

Crystals: coral, petoskey stone, abalone, opal (especially water opal), blue calcite, aquamarine

Animals: horse, bull, dolphin, hippocampus

HERA

Colors: red, pink and white for association with love and marriage. gold because she's the Queen of the Gods.

Offerings: iris, rose, patchouli, coconut, cypress, maple, peacock feathers, pomegranate

Crystals: pearls, garnet, citrine, diamonds, lapis lazuli, topaz, opal, moonstone, rose quartz

Animals: peacock, cuckoo, cow

HESTIA

Colors: red, orange, and yellow for association with fire, brown or white for the hearth/home.

Offerings: tea/coffee (especially if you drink it with her), pine, bread, cider, apples, anything on fire, cinnamon

Crystals: amber, jade, garnet, ruby, carnelian, sunstone, amethyst, honey calcite

Animals: donkey, pig, crane

HEPHAESTUS

Colors: red, orange, and yellow for association with fire, metallics for association with metalworking.

Offerings: spicy things, hot beverages, handmade things, dragon's blood incense, seashells, anything on fire

Crystals: metals, fire opal, honey calcite, obsidian, hematite, carnelian

Animals: donkey, dog, crane

DIONYSUS

Colors: purple and green for association with grapes/wine, leopard/tiger print for his holy animals

Offerings: grapes (or any derivative), alcohol, cinnamon, ivy, pinecones. there's a particular emphasis on non-physical offerings with dionysus, like playing music, partying or sex/masturbation

Crystals: grape agate, leopard jasper, crazy lace agate, tiger's eye, garnet, rose or rutilated quartz, amethyst, jade

Animals: panther/leopard, tiger, bull, serpent, dolphin

ARES

Colors: red and purple for association with war

Offerings: spicy things, yarrow, chocolate, basil, cinnamon

Crystals: bloodstone, garnet, red jasper, smokey quartz, black tourmaline, hematite, metals, obsidian, carnelian

Animals: eagle owl, barn owl, poisonous snakes, boar, vulture

DEMETER

Colors: green, brown, and yellow for association with the earth/harvest. black for her ruthlessness

Offerings: oats and grain, anything baked, flowers, spices (like cinnamon or cloves, allspice is good too), leaves that have begun to change colors for fall, mint, poppy

Crystals: jade, tree/moss agate, carnelian, amber, aventurine, rutilated quartz

Animals: serpent, farm animals (especially pig), gecko, turtle-dove

ATHENA

Colors: white and grey/silver for association with wisdom. red for association with war

Offerings: anything handmade, olives/olive oil/olive branches/olive leaves, snake shed, cedar, cypress, cinnamon

Crystals: metals, celestite, fluorite, lapis lazuli, bloodstone, obsidian, iolite

this post includes hades, persephone, artemis, apollo, aphrodite, hermes, and hekate. for part 2 including zeus, hera, poseidon, hestia, hephaestus, dionysus, ares, demeter, and athena click here.

keep in mind that typical offerings to any god includes meat, wine, grain (specifically barley), honey, and incense (myrrh and frankincense would be period appropriate), but i'm listing some specific offerings that can be given if you'd like

colors can be used for candles, banners, decor, whatever you want

HADES

Colors: black, red, and white for association with death. purple and metallics for association with riches/wealth

Offerings: mint, asphodel, white poplar, pomegranate, coffee, cinnamon, elm, money, chocolate

Crystals: gemstones, black crystals (obsidian, black tourmaline, smokey quartz, etc.), pyrite, hematite, labradorite

Animals: black ram, owl, serpent, Cerberus

PERSEPHONE

Colors: purple, pink, yellow, green for association with springtime. black and metallics for association with Hades. white for purity.

Offerings: pomegranate, flowers, grains, asphodel, lavender, rosemary

Crystals: amethyst, gemstones, moss/tree agate, milk quartz, jade, lepidolite

Animals: deer, ram, bat, talking birds (including parrots)

APHRODITE

Colors: red and pink for love/sexuality. white and blue for association with the ocean. gold for association with, well, gold.

Offerings: roses, chocolate, shells, myrrh, gold

Crystals: rose quartz, pearl, emerald, opal, aquamarine, rhodonite, rhodochrosite, ocean jasper, morganite

Animals: swan, dove, hare

ARTEMIS

Colors: white, blue, black, and grey for association with the heavens. brown and green for association with nature/the hunt.

Offerings: moon shaped foods, frankincense, cypress, mugwort, amaranth

Crystals: morganite, moonstone, aventurine, selenite, celestite, moss/tree agate, amethyst, quartz (specific dendritic), labradorite

Animals: deer, wolf, wild boar

APOLLO

Colors: yellow, white, and blue for association with the heavens. red, orange, and pink for healing. purple and green for the Oracle

Offerings: sun shaped foods, bay leaves, laurel, cypress, playing music, poetry

Crystals: sunstone, amber, calcite (specifically honey and yellow), quartz (specifically rutilated or clear), rose quartz

Animals: cow, snake, hawk, crow/raven, cicada, swan

HERMES

Colors: green and gold for money/luck. white and brown for travels.

Offerings: money, crocus/saffron, strawberries

Crystals: jade, malachite, fluorite, pyrite, lapis lazuli, citrine, alexandrite

Animals: tortoise, ram

HEKATE

Colors: purple, blue, and green for magic. red and black for association with underworld

Offerings: garlic, saffron, crossroad dirt, black salt, ashes, sage, cedar, yew

Crystals: labradorite, obsidian, hematite, black tourmaline, amethyst, bloodstone, serpentine, lepidolite

Continuando nossa série em torno dos epítetos dos Deuses do Mundo Inferior, rumamos nossos escritos em direção da Rainha Terrível, a Deusa da primavera e soberana do Submundo: Koré, também conhecida por seu aspecto ctônico Perséfone.

Famosa pelo mito descrito no Hino Homérico a Deméter, Koré é amplamente conhecida pelo seu rapto por Plutão, que a levou ao Mundo Inferior e desposou-a após a jovem Deusa comer sementes de romã e ser forçada a passar parte do ano no Reino dos Mortos. Seu retorno anual e reencontro com sua mãe, a Deusa da agricultura, marca o início da primavera. O mito de seu rapto funciona como uma analogia à tradição de casamento grega antiga, onde esposa deixa a casa de seus pais para viver com seu marido.

Com domínio tanto sobre os aspectos frutíferos da vida, como o reino sombrio do Submundo, Koré é uma deidade cercada de uma rica mitologia que contrasta bem aspectos do mundo urânico e ctônico.

Em termos de culto, Koré era bastante cultuada ao lado de sua mãe, Deméter, Deusa das estações e agricultura. Elas costumeiramente partilham dos mesmos domínios com o adendo do domínio sobre o Reino dos Mortos. Seu culto na antiguidade contava com inúmeros santuários e templos, da região Ática a Argos.

Representada como uma moça em amplos robes com porções de grãos em mãos ou uma tocha, Koré é geralmente vista nas imagens de culto ao lado de sua mãe ou marido, Plutão.

Agora, foquemos em seus epítetos.

NOMES ALTERNATIVOS

Koré - "A Donzela", é um nome geralmente utilizado para se referir a Deusa da primavera, frequentemente quando em companhia de sua mãe, Deméter.

Perséfone - Utilizado geralmente para se referir a Koré como a Rainha do Submundo e esposa de Plutão. Descreve seu domínio como soberana sobre o pós-vida.

Despoina - "A Senhora", nome utilizado para se referir a Koré e outras Deusas. Utilizado mais frequentemente na região da Arcádia.

EPÍTETOS POÉTICOS E DE CULTO

Khthonia (Χθονια) - "do Mundo Inferior"/"Da terra"

Karpophoros (Καρποφοροσ) - "Portadora dos Frutos"

Soteira (Σωτειρα) - "Salvadora"

Megala Thea (Μεγαλα Θεα) - "Grande Deusa"

Hagne (Ἁγνη) - "Sagrada"

Daeira (Δαειρα) - "Sabedora"

Praxidikê (Πραξιδικη) - "[Que] exatifica a justiça"

Os epítetos em sua maioria descrevem os domínios de Koré como Rainha do Submundo e Deusa da primavera, cujo retorno causa o florescer da vegetação ao passo que Ela se reencontra com sua mãe, Démeter.

Os epítetos Praxidikê e Hagne são presentes em algumas deidades do Mundo Inferior como títulos eufemistas. O primeiro geralmente se referindo a capacidade de Koré para comandar os espíritos da punição (As Eumênides/Erínias) e o segundo descrevendo-a em sua qualidade sagrada.

A Rainha dos Mortos aparece frequentemente na literatura como propiciadora da aparição dos espíritos durante atos de necromancia, como na Odisséia e era vista nos cultos órficos como asseguradora de um pós-vida abençoado.

Uma Deusa poderosa, ligada aos ciclos naturais de vida e morte de todas as coisas na terra, Koré figura entre uma das deidades mais conhecidas do Mundo Inferior.

Encerremos o post com o Hino Órfico a Perséfone:

Continuing our series around the epithets of the Gods of the Underworld, we head our writings towards the Dread Queen, the Goddess of spring and ruler of the Underworld: Koré, also known for her chthonic aspect Persephone.

Famous for the myth described in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, Koré is widely known for her abduction by Pluto, who took Her to the Underworld and married Her after the young Goddess ate pomegranate seeds and was forced to spend part of the year in the Realm of the Dead. Her annual return and reunion with Her mother, the Goddess of agriculture, marks the beginning of spring. Her abduction myth works as an analogy to the ancient Greek marriage tradition, where a wife leaves her parents' home to live with her husband.

With mastery over both the fruitful aspects of life and the dark realm of the Underworld, Koré is a deity surrounded by a rich mythology that contrasts well the aspects of the Ouranic and Chthonic worlds.

In terms of worship, Koré was highly worshiped alongside Her mother, Demeter, Goddess of the seasons and agriculture. They customarily share the same domains with the addition of domain over the Realm of the Dead. Her cult in antiquity had numerous shrines and temples, from the Attica region to Argos.

Depicted as a girl in ample robes with grains in hand or a torch, Kore is often seen in cult images alongside Her mother or Her husband, Pluto.

Now, let's focus on her epithets.

ALTERNATIVE NAMES

Koré - "The Maiden", is a name commonly used to refer to the Goddess of Spring, often when in the company of her mother, Demeter.

Persephone - Used generally to refer to Koré as the Queen of the Underworld and wife of Pluto. This one describes her dominion as sovereign over the afterlife.

Despoina - "The Lady", name used to refer to Koré and other Goddesses. Used most often in the Arcadia region.

POETIC AND CULT EPITHETS

Khthonia (Χθονια) - "of the Underworld"/"Of the earth"

Karpophoros (Καρποφοροσ) - "Fruit-Bearer"

Soteira (Σωτειρα) - "Savior"

Megala Thea (Μεγαλα Θεα) - "Great Goddess"

Hagne (Ἁγνη) - "Sacred One"

Daeira (Δαειρα) - "Knowing ONe"

Praxidikê (Πραξιδικη) - "Exacter of justice"

Most epithets describe Koré's domains as Queen of the Underworld and Goddess of Spring, whose return causes vegetation to bloom as She is reunited with her mother Demeter.

The epithets Praxidikê and Hagne are present in some Underworld deities as euphemistic titles. The former generally referring to Koré's ability to command the spirits of punishment (The Eumenides/Erinyes) and the latter describing Her in Her sacred quality.

The Queen of the Dead appears frequently in literature as a propitiator of the appearance of spirits during acts of necromancy, as in the Odyssey and was seen in Orphic cults as the guarantor of a blessed afterlife.

A powerful Goddess, linked to the natural cycles of life and death of all things on earth, Koré ranks among one of the best-known deities of the Underworld.

We close the post with the Orphic Hymn to Persephone:

Orphic Hymn 29 to Persephone (trans. Taylor) (Greek hymns C3rd B.C. to 2nd A.D.)

Olá, pessoal! Estamos retornando para nossa série de posts sobre os epítetos de cada deidade. Desta vez, focaremos em alguns dos Deuses Ctônicos - os Deuses ligados à morte e o Mundo Inferior em si.

Plutão (Do grego Πλουτων, "O Rico") é o título eufemista com qual nos referimos a Hades, o Deus dos mortos e do Mundo Inferior, que leva o mesmo nome que a deidade que o rege.

Um dos seis crônidas (os filhos de Cronos e Réia), Plutão é descrito por Hesíodo como mais velho que seus irmãos Poseidon e Zeus, sempre representado nas (poucas) imagens de culto como um homem maduro de barba cheia, portando um cetro real, bidente ou acompanhado de Cérbero, o cão de três cabeças guardião do Submundo.

Temido por seu domínio sombrio, o próprio nome do Deus era evitado, fato comum no tocante a determinadas deidades do Mundo Inferior, cujos domínios tratam de aspectos da existência que podem ser vistos como indesejáveis.

Plutão, entretanto, não é uma figura de natureza maligna, dando justos julgamentos aos mortos e prezando pela manutenção do ciclo natural da vida e da morte.

Em termos de culto, Plutão tinha poucos templos dedicados exclusivamente para ele. Sendo majoritariamente invocado em rituais funerários ao lado de sua esposa, Perséfone, a Rainha do Mundo dos Mortos e presente nos cultos de mistério de Elêusis. Seu maior templo supostamente era o Nekromanteion de Épiro, na Tesprótia, onde se consultava os mortos como forma de oráculo.

Agora, definiremos alguns epítetos dele:

OUTROS NOMES

Títulos eufemistas e outros nomes para se referir ao Rei dos Mortos eram comuns.

Hades (Ἁιδης)/Aidoneus - Tido como o nome em si da deidade, também se refere como o nome de seu reino. O nome Aidoneus é uma forma estendida de seu próprio nome, supostamente significando "O Oculto".

Plouton (Πλουτων) - "O Rico"/Plutão, descreve sua qualidade como detentor das riquezas da terra. Tanto a fertilidade dos frutos e grãos, como os metais preciosos subterrâneos. Na era romana, é utilizado como seu nome principal junto a outros nomes de deidades sincretizadas a Ele (Como Dis Pater).

Theon Chtonios/Zeus Chtonios (Θεων Χθονιος/Ζευσ Χθονιος) - "Deus do Submundo"/"Zeus Ctônico", são nomes atribuídos a Plutão como substitutos a seu nome em si.

EPÍTETOS

Polysemantor/Polydegmon/Polyxenos (Πολυσημαντωρ/Πολυδεγμων/Πολυξενος) - "Rei de Muitos"/"Anfitrião de Muitos", estes epítetos poéticos descrevem Plutão como o anfitrião receptor de todos no Mundo dos Mortos.

Nekrodegmon/Nekron Soter (Νεκροδεγμων/Νεκρων Σωτηρ) - "Anfitrião dos Mortos"/"Salvador dos Mortos", descreve sua qualidade como anfitrião e zelador do pós-vida helênico.

Isodetes - "Imparcial", descreve a igualdade com qual Plutão age para com todos, tratando-os justamente.

Eubuleus - "Do bom conselho", é um título comum a várias deidades, também aplicado ao Rei dos Mortos.

Plutão é um Deus amplamente respeitado e temido desde os tempos antigos, figurando como o receptor final de nossa alma quando rumarmos para o Além. Seus mitos mais famosos incluem sua participação na Titanomaquia, o rapto de Koré (posteriormente conhecida como Perséfone) e o mito de Orfeu.

Retratado como um Deus de coração imparcial, o Rei dos Mortos frequentemente é descrito como uma deidade preocupada com o equilíbrio entre a vida e morte, punindo severamente quem ousasse maculá-lo, como nos mitos de Sísifo - tendo fugido da sua hora derradeira e capturado Tânato (A Morte em pessoa), causando um desequilíbrio terrível só recuperado com sua eventual captura pelo Deus Ares, que libertou Tânato.

Há pouquíssimo registro de festivais em torno do Deus, provavelmente dada a natureza sombria que circunda seu domínio. A hora de propiciá-lo (com geralmente ofertas líquidas ctônicas) mais apropriada aparenta ser o momento funerário, honrando-o por seu trabalho justo e cuidadoso para com todos os mortais.

Encerremos este post com seu hino órfico, desejando que Plutão nos confira riqueza justa em vida e justo julgamento em morte.

Hello guys! We are returning to our series of posts on the epithets of each deity. This time, we'll focus on some of the Chthonic Gods - the Gods linked to death and the Underworld itself.

Pluto (Greek Πλουτων, "The Rich One") is the euphemistic title with which we refer to Hades, the God of the dead and the Underworld, who bears the same name as the deity that rules him.

One of the six kronidae (the children of Kronos and Rhea), Pluto is described by Hesiod as older than his brothers Poseidon and Zeus, always represented in the (few) cult images as a mature man with a full beard, carrying a royal scepter, bident or accompanied by Cerberus, the three-headed dog guardian of the Underworld.

Feared for His shadowy domain, the very name of the God was shunned, a fact common with certain deities of the Underworld, whose domains deal with aspects of existence that might be seen as undesirable.

Pluto, however, is not a figure of an evil nature, giving fair judgments to the dead and valuing the maintenance of the natural cycle of life and death.

In terms of cult, Pluto had few temples dedicated exclusively to him. Being mostly invoked in funeral rites alongside his wife, Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld and present in the Eleusinian mystery cults. His greatest temple was supposedly the Nekromanteion of Epirus, in Thesprotia, where the dead were consulted as an oracle.

Now, we will describe some epithets of His:

OTHER NAMES

Euphemistic titles and other names for the King of the Dead were common.

Hades (Ἁιδης) / Aidoneus -Taken as the name itself of the deity, also referred to as his kingdom name. The name Aidoneus is an extended form of his own name, supposedly meaning "The Hidden One".

Plouton (Πλουτων) - "The Rich One" / Pluto, describes His aspect as keeper of the riches of the earth. Both the fertility of fruits and grains, as well as the underground precious metals. In the Roman era, it is used as its main name along with other names of deities syncretized with Him (like Dis Pater).

Theon Chtonios/Zeus Chtonios (Θεων Χθονιος/Ζευσ Χθονιος) - "God of the Underworld"/"Cthonic Zeus", are names attributed to Pluto as replacements for his name itself.

EPITHETS

Polysemantor/Polydegmon/Polyxenos (Πολυσημαντωρ/Πολυδεγμων/Πολυξενος) - "King of Many"/"Host of Many", these poetic epithets describe Pluto as the receiving host of all in the Underworld.

Nekrodegmon / Nekron Soter (Νεκροδεγμων / Νεκρων Σωτηρ) - "Host of the Dead" / "Savior of the Dead", describes his quality as host and caretaker of the hellenic afterlife.

Isodetes - "Impartial", describes the equality with which Pluto acts towards all, treating them justly.

Eubuleus - "Of good advice", is a title common to several deities, also applied to the King of the Dead.

Pluto is a widely respected and feared God since ancient times, figuring as the ultimate receiver of our soul when we head to the Beyond. His most famous myths include his participation in the Titanomachy, the abduction of Koré (later known as Persephone) and the myth of Orpheus.

Portrayed as an impartial-hearted God, the King of the Dead is often depicted as a deity concerned with the balance between life and death, severely punishing anyone who dared to taint it, as in the myths of Sisyphus - having fled his final hour and captured Thanatos (Death incarnate), causing a terrible imbalance only recovered with his eventual capture by the God Ares, who freed Death.

There is very little record of festivals surrounding the God, probably given the ominous nature that surrounds his domain. The most appropriate time to provide Him (with usually chthonic liquid offerings) appears to be the funeral time, honoring Him for his fair and careful work towards all mortals.

Let us close this post with HIs orphic hymn, wishing that Pluto bestows us with just plentyness in life and just judgment in death.