Sailor Pluto: Why Garnet?

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Ever wondered what the word Garnet has to do with anything and always crops up with Pluto?

This is probably a sneaky bit of punnery on Naoko Takeuchi’s part.

The Japanese word for “Garnet” is 石榴石 (Zakuroishi), “Zakuro” meaning “pomegranate” and “ishi” meaning “stone”.

Pomegranates are associated with Hades (Pluto) and the Underworld through the story of Persephone. Persephone was abducted by Hades, when Persephone’s Mother Demeter found out she became depressed, the Gods demanded Persephone be released and Hades agreed, before she returned, he gave Persephone some pomegranate seeds which she ate, binding her to the Underworld forever, and she would have to stay there for a third of the year.

So basically the word “Garnet” is associated with Pluto’s never-ending mission as Soldier of Time-Space and the Underworld.

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