Pluto & the King  Greek Name: Hades As the story goes ....  One day, the king of a small village in the mountains was busy trying to come up with an idea to solve the town's fresh water problem. He saw Jupiter fly by, carrying a lovely river spirit in his arms.  "Jupiter," sighed the king. "What a trouble maker!" Soon after, the river-god flew by. “Have you seen my daughter?” he bellowed at the king. “If you’ll give my city a source of fresh water, I’ll tell you what I saw,” the king shouted back. Immediately, a crystal clear stream of fresh water bubbled up.   “Jupiter took her that way,” the king pointed.  The king knew Jupiter would be angry when he heard what the king had done.  But his town desperately needed a source of fresh water. And now they had one.   Sure enough, Jupiter was furious. He told his brother Pluto to take the king down to the underworld immediately!  “When they tell you I am dead, do not put a gold coin under my tongue,” the king quickly whispered to his wife. Being a good wife, she did exactly as the king had asked her.    Because the king was, well, a king, Pluto personally met the king at the River Styx, the entrance to the underworld. Because no gold coin had been placed under his tongue, the king arrived at the entrance to the underworld as a poor beggar. “Where is your gold coin?” Pluto demanded in shock. “How can you pay for a trip across the River Styx and arrive in the underworld?” The king hung his head in shame. "My wife was too cheap to pay for the passage.” Pluto mouth fell open. “You go right back there and teach that women some manners.” Pluto sent the king back to earth immediately, where he was magically alive and well again.  The king and his beloved wife often laughed about the king's adventure. But they never told anyone else. You never knew when the gods might be listening.    Explore Ancient Rome Ancient Roman Gods & Goddesses Roman Games  Roman Myths  Roman Video Clips  Roman Powerpoints  Ancient Rome for Kids   All Rights Reserved Greek Myth loosely retold by Lin Donn    Clip Art Credit: Phillip Martin Have a great year!