Ploutos in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Ploutos

7 passages from 5 ancient authors that tell of Ploutos, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Ploutos or Plutus was the god of wealth in Greek mythology. He was the son of Iasion and the goddess Demeter, after they lay together in a thrice-plou... For the story in one place, read our article on Ploutos.

Homer (1)

Homer, The Homeric Hymns 2.395–495Hymn 2 to Demeter (5): reunion and the MysteriesPersephone tells her mother how she was seized and made to taste the seed, and mother and daughter spend the day in joy. Rhea brings Zeus's message, and Demeter agrees that Persephone will spend a third of the year below and the rest with the gods. Demeter makes the fields fruitful again and teaches her rites to the leaders of Eleusis, and the hymn closes with a blessing on those who have seen them.

Diodorus Siculus (1)

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 5.73.1–5.77.8The gods' discoveries and their Cretan originsZeus is said to have given each god a field of invention: the Muses the letters and poetry, Apollo the lyre, healing and the bow, Hermes the herald's staff, Athena the olive, and Dionysus the vine. The chapters then give an older Heracles, Artemis, Plutus, and the claim that most of the gods began in Crete and spread to other lands.

Hyginus (1)

Hyginus, De astronomia 2.4.1–7Book 2: Arctophylax, Icarus and ErigoneArctophylax is first Arcas, the son of Callisto, and then Icarus, to whom Dionysus gave the vine. The long story of Icarus's murder, his daughter Erigone's death and the faithful dog Maera leads to the Athenian festival of the swing, the Dog-star and the Etesian winds. A last part tells of Iasion, Philomelus and the invention of the plough-wagon.

Lucian of Samosata (3)

Lucian of Samosata, Timon 16–32Hermes and Plutus on the roadPlutus argues that the spendthrift and the miser are both to be blamed and that he prefers the man who steers a middle course. Hermes asks why he is blind, lame and winged, why he finds the unworthy and passes by men like Aristides, and why men love him so much. They go on together, but Hermes realises they have forgotten Thesaurus.
Lucian of Samosata, Timon 33–48Poverty leaves; Timon finds the gold; Gnathonides and PhiliadesPoverty takes leave of Timon with Toil and Wisdom, and Timon first refuses Plutus but yields when the gods insist. He digs up the treasure and resolves to live alone and hate all men. The parasite Gnathonides and then Philiades arrive to congratulate him, and he drives them off with his spade.
Lucian of Samosata, Timon 1–15Timon's complaint to Zeus; Zeus sends PlutusTimon, digging in a smock-frock, reproaches Zeus for letting men cheat and forswear themselves and tells how the friends he enriched deserted him. Zeus sees him from heaven, and Hermes explains that generosity and flatterers have ruined him. Zeus sends Hermes with Plutus and Thesaurus to make Timon rich again, although Plutus is unwilling to go.

Strabo (1)

Strabo, Geography 3.2.8–11Iberian mines, Tartessus and GeryonStrabo praises the gold, silver, copper and iron of Turdetania and describes washing and refining the metal, with Posidonius on the miners, the old tale of the burning forests, and tin from the Cassiterides. Polybius is cited on the silver mines of New Carthage. The river Tartessus is linked to a line of Stesichorus about Geryon and Erythia, and Artemidorus is accused of relying on Pytheas.