What are the Greek and Roman names for the mythological God of the Underworld?

In Greek mythology, the cosmos was divided among three powerful brothers. While Zeus ruled the sky and Poseidon the sea, their brother Hades drew the Underworld as his domain. His name became synonymous with the realm of the dead itself, a gloomy but orderly kingdom. Unlike a modern devil figure, Hades was not typically portrayed as purely evil, but rather as a stern and unyielding king who presided over the souls of the departed, ensuring the natural order of life and death was maintained.

The Romans, who often adopted and reinterpreted Greek deities, knew this god as Pluto. This name has a fascinating origin, derived from the Greek word for "wealth" (ploutos). This association came from the idea that all the precious metals, gems, and agricultural riches of the world originated from beneath the earth, within his kingdom. While the name Hades emphasized the unseen nature of his realm, the name Pluto highlighted his role as the divine source of subterranean wealth. Both figures, however, share the same core mythology, including the famous story of his abduction of Persephone, whom the Romans called Proserpina.