Introducing the first in our new series: Greek vs Roman!

In one corner, we have the Greek god of the dead and generally gloomy family outcast, Hades! And in the same corner, we have Hades’s Roman equivalent, the god of wealth and black designer suits, Pluto!

In many respects, these two are the same being, but, for the purposes of this article at least, only one version can emerge as the true Lord of the Underworld.

Both gods tailor their outfits with—what else?—the agony of tortured souls.

Appearances, Appearances

For a couple of shapeshifters, it’s astonishing how Hades and Pluto keep their signature looks. Each is famous for pale skin and pitch-black hair. Hades’s style is looser, with billowing black robes and a flowing mane. Pluto keeps things simple, sporting a cropped haircut and a form-fitting business suit. Both gods tailor their outfits with—what else?—the agony of tortured souls.

It’s All About Perception

Millennia of watching over the deceased in the Underworld earned Hades a reputation among the Greeks as a Gloomy Gus (and also a gruesome, demonic monstrosity). As Pluto, though, he fared much better. The Romans worshipped him as a deity tied to immense wealth. (He must have had a better P.R. team that time.)

Demigod Legacy

Hades has been surprisingly supportive of his son, demigod Nico di Angelo. He loses points for sending monsters to the surface world to kill his niece, Thalia Grace. Pluto has a more distant relationship with his daughter, Hazel Levesque. But if Pluto had not ignored her existence, Hazel wouldn’t have escaped Tartarus to become a hero. The barometer for good parenting varies widely between these two.

Final Verdict

It’s impossible to determine which god of the dead would take the cake. These two have more in common than not, even sharing the same world-shattering powers and weaponry. What it really comes down to is this: Cerberus seems to like Hades more. Take it from us—you can always trust a three-headed hellhound to be an impartial judge in these matters.