Origin
Hades is the eldest son of Cronus and Rhea. When the world is shared, he receives the underworld, where he rules over the shades of the dead. He is not an evil god: he is just and relentless, and makes sure no soul leaves his realm.
The story
He falls in love with Persephone, daughter of Demeter, and carries her off to make her his queen. In despair, Demeter stops the crops from growing, and the earth becomes barren. Zeus has to step in: Persephone may return, provided she has eaten nothing in the underworld.
But she has tasted a few pomegranate seeds. She will therefore spend part of the year below ground and the rest with her mother. This is how the Greeks explained the seasons. The Romans called Hades Pluto, “the rich one”, because the riches of the soil belong to him.
The symbol
Pluto was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh. Its name was suggested by Venetia Burney, an eleven year old English schoolgirl. In 2006 it was reclassified as a dwarf planet, but astrology still gives it an important place.
In astrology, Pluto stands for transformation, depth, power and rebirth. It is seen as the modern ruler of Scorpio.