In
Greek mythology, 'Plouto' was a
nymph and the mother of
Tantalus by
Zeus. Her parentage is given as
Oceanus and
Tethys (thus making Plouto one of the 3000
Oceanids) or as
Himas, a
Lydian that is otherwise unknown. Plouto was said to be married to
Tmolus, the stepfather of
Tantalus.
Note: She was also called ''Pluto''. The
Romans (see
Roman mythology) later used that name in preference to
Hades, the Greek god of the underworld, but the god and the nymph are not related.
Pluto was also
Demeter's and
Iasion's son, better known as
Plutus, and the personification of wealth. There is a common theme to these three personages: ancient Lydia was a wealthy kingdom, owing (in part) to their access to the mines of Asia Minor; Hades was associated with the mineral riches deep within the earth; and Plutus, son of Demeter, personified wealth (originally agriculture, later more broadly applied).