Editing Pluto (mythology) (section)

=== Medieval mythography ===
Medieval mythographies, written in Latin, continue the conflation of Greek and Roman deities begun by the ancient Romans themselves. Perhaps because the name Pluto was used in both traditions, it appears widely in these Latin sources for the classical ruler of the underworld, who is also seen as the double, ally, or adjunct to the figure in [[Christian mythology]] known variously as the [[Christian teaching about the Devil|Devil]], [[Satan]], or [[Lucifer]]. The classical underworld deities became casually interchangeable with Satan as an embodiment of [[Hell]].<ref>Solmsen, "The Powers of Darkness," pp. 237–257; Frazer, "Hades Stabbed by the Cross of Christ", pp. 153–161.</ref> For instance, in the 9th century, [[Abbo Cernuus]], the only witness whose account of the [[Siege of Paris (885–886)|Siege of Paris]] survives, called the invading [[Vikings]] the "spawn of Pluto."<ref>''Dic igitur, praepulchra polis, quod Danea munus / Libavit tibimet soboles Plutonis amica'', ''Bella Parisiacae urbis'' 1.21, as noted by Nirmal Dass, "Temporary Otherness and Homiletic History in the Late Carolingian Age: A Reading of the ''Bella Parisiacae urbis'' of Abbo of Stain-Germain-des-Prés," in ''Difference and Identity in Francia and Medieval France'' (Ashgate Publishing, 2010), p. 106. In his earlier edition, translation, and commentary of the work, Dass gives "Speak, most wondrous of cities, of the gift the Danes brought for you, / Those friends of Pluto", in ''Viking Attacks on Paris: The 'Bella Parisiacae Urbis' of Abbo of Saint-Germain-des-Prés'' (Peeters, 2007), pp. 28–29, but ''{{lang|la|soboles}}'' (classical Latin ''{{lang|la|suboles}}'') means "progeny, offspring," modified by ''{{lang|la|amica}}'', "dear, beloved."</ref>

In the ''Little Book on Images of the Gods'', Pluto is described as
<blockquote>
an intimidating personage sitting on a throne of sulphur, holding the scepter of his realm in his right hand, and with his left strangling a soul. Under his feet three-headed Cerberus held a position, and beside him he had three [[Harpies]]. From his golden throne of sulphur flowed four rivers, which were called, as is known, [[Lethe]], [[Cocytus]], [[Phlegethon]] and [[Acheron]], tributaries of the [[Styx|Stygian swamp]].<ref>''De deorum imaginibus libellus'', chapter 6, "De Plutone": ''homo terribilis in solio sulphureo sedens, sceptrum regni in manu tenens dextra: sinistra, animam constringes, cui tricipitem Cerberum sub pedibus collocabant, & iuxta se tres Harpyias habebat. De throno aurê eius sulphureo quatuor flumina manabunt, quae scilicet Lethum, Cocytû, Phlegethontem, & Acherontem appellabant, & Stygem paludem iuxta flumina assignabant''.</ref>
</blockquote>
This work derives from that of the [[Vatican Mythographer|Third Vatican Mythographer]], possibly one Albricus or Alberic, who presents often extensive allegories and devotes his longest chapter, including an [[excursus]] on the nature of the soul, to Pluto.<ref>The questions of authorship involving the ''De deorum imaginibus libellus''  and the ''Liber Ymaginum deorum'' ("Book of Images of the Gods") are vexed; Ronald E. Pepin, ''The Vatican Mythographers'' (Fordham University Press, 2008), pp. 7–9.</ref>