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Myths about the Roman God Plutus
He is
represented blind and lame, injudicious and fearful. Being
lame, he confers estates but slowly: for want of judgment,
his favors are commonly bestowed on the unworthy; and as he
is timorous, so he obliges rich men to watch their treasures
with fear. Plutus is painted with wings, to signify the
swiftness of his retreat, when he takes his departure.
Little more of him remains in story, than that he had a
daughter named Euriboea; unless the comedy of Aristophanes,
called by his name, be taken into the account.
Aristophanes says that this deity, having at first a very
clear sight, bestowed his favors only on the just and good:
but that after Jupiter deprived him of vision, riches fell
indifferently to the good and the bad. A design being formed
for the recovery of his sight, Penia or poverty opposed it,
making it appear that poverty is the mistress of arts,
sciences, and virtues, which would be in danger of perishing
if all men were rich; but no credit being given to her
remonstrance, Plutus recovered his sight in the temple of
Aesculapius, whence the temples and altars of other gods, and
those of Jupiter himself, were abandoned, the whole world
sacrificing to Plutus alone.
Myths about the Roman God Plutus
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