Dīs Pater facts for kids

Statue of Dis Pater, now in Strasbourg

Dīs Pater was an important god in Roman mythology. His name means "Father of riches" in Latin. He was known as a god of the underworld, which is the realm of the dead.

Originally, Dīs Pater was connected to the earth and its treasures. He was also linked to the fertility of the soil, meaning he helped plants grow and crops thrive.

Who Was Dīs Pater?

Over time, Dīs Pater became very similar to the Greek god Hades. Hades was also a god of the underworld. The Romans also had another god named Orcus, who was also linked to the dead. Because of these connections, Dīs Pater became known as a ruler of the dark and mysterious world of the dead.

The Name Dīs

The name Dīs Pater was often made shorter to just Dīs. This shorter name even became another way to refer to the underworld itself. For example, in the famous book The Divine Comedy by Dante, a part of the underworld is called the City of Dis. This shows how important Dīs Pater was in ancient Roman beliefs.

Images for kids

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  18th century painting showing Mercury (center), Flora (right), and Dīs Pater (left), from Convito per le nozze di Amore e Psiche (The Wedding Feast of Cupid and Psyche), Galleria Nazionale di Palazzo Spinola, Genoa

See also

In Spanish: Dis Pater para niños