Why the Greek god of wealth was intentionally blinded by Zeus
In short: Plutus, the ancient personification of wealth, was famously blinded by Zeus to ensure he distributed riches without prejudice. Yet, this divine impartiality was short-lived. Once his sight was restored, the god’s ability to discern the deserving from the corrupt created chaos, forever linking prosperity to moral ambiguity and human greed.
In Greek mythology, Plutus is the son of Demeter and Iasion, conceived in a thrice-ploughed field. While he is most commonly associated with agriculture, his identity is fluid; some traditions name him the son of Tyche, the goddess of fortune. His visual hallmark is the cornucopia, or horn of plenty, which he carries as a child or youth. In allegorical art, he is often depicted in the arms of Eirene, representing the idea that prosperity is a gift of peace, or with Tyche, symbolizing the fortune of cities.
The character of Plutus evolved significantly in later Classical thought. Aristophanes famously portrayed him as blind, lame, and winged—blind to distribute wealth fairly, lame because he arrives slowly, and winged because he departs with haste. When his sight is restored in Aristophanic comedy, the resulting havoc highlights the tension between wealth and merit. This moral skepticism appears in other ancient accounts, such as a fable recorded by Phaedrus, where Hercules refuses to greet Plutus because the god consistently favors the wicked and corrupt over the virtuous.
The association between wealth and the underworld is a recurring theme. Lucian of Samosata’s dialogue Timon suggests that Hades, not Zeus, is the true source of wealth, noting that riches are often sealed in parchment wills and passed between the living while the dead are forgotten. This dark connection persists in Dante’s Inferno, where Plutus appears as a demon guarding the fourth circle of Hell, symbolizing the destructive nature of hoarding. From these ancient roots, the god’s name has permeated modern language, giving rise to terms like plutocracy, plutomania, and plutonomics, all reflecting our enduring fascination with the power and peril of accumulated riches.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Plutus
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