Underworld

Yggdrasil, a modern attempt to reconstruct the Norse world tree which connects the heavens, the world, and the underworld. The legs of the god Vishnu as the Cosmic Man depict earth and the seven realms of the Hindu underworld of Patala. The feet rest on cosmic serpent Shesha.

The underworld is the world of the dead in various religious traditions, located below the world of the living.[1] Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underworld.

The concept of an underworld is found in almost every civilization, and "may be as old as humanity itself".[2] Common features of underworld myths are accounts of living people making journeys to the underworld, often for some heroic purpose. Other myths reinforce traditions that entrance of souls to the underworld requires a proper observation of ceremony, such as the ancient Greek story of the recently dead Patroclus haunting Achilles until his body could be properly buried for this purpose.[3] Persons having social status were dressed and equipped in order to better navigate the underworld.[4]

A number of mythologies incorporate the concept of the soul of the deceased making its own journey to the underworld, with the dead needing to be taken across a defining obstacle such as a lake or a river to reach this destination.[5] Imagery of such journeys can be found in both ancient and modern art. The descent to the underworld has been described as "the single most important myth for Modernist authors".[6]

## Contents

* 1 By mythology
* 2 Underworld figures
* 3 See also
* 4 References
* 5 External links

## By mythology

This list includes underworlds in various mythology, with links to corresponding articles.

Albanian mythology  | Ferri

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Aztec mythology  | Mictlan
Babylonian mythology  | Irkalla
Buddhist mythology  | Patala, Naraka (also Niraya)
Celtic mythology  | Annwn, Mag Mell
Chinese mythology / taoism | Diyu 地獄
Christian mythology  | Hell, Tártaro, Purgatory
Egyptian mythology  | Aaru, Duat, Neter-khertet, Amenti
Estonian mythology  | Toonela
Fijian mythology | Burotu, Murimuria[7]
Finnish mythology  | Tuonela
Georgian mythology  | Kveskneli
Germanic mythology  | Hel, Niflheim
Greek mythology |

Main article: Greek underworld

Elysium, Asphodel Meadows, Tártaros
Guanche mythology |

Echeide, Guayota

Hindu mythology | Patala, Naraka or Yamaloka
Hittite mythology  | Dankuš daganzipaš/Dankuš tekan (dark earth)
Hopi mythology | Maski
Hungarian mythology  | Alvilág
Inca mythology  | Uku Pacha
Inuit mythology  | Adlivun
Islamic mythology  | Jahannam (hell), layers of earth: Basit (plain), Thaqil (region of distress), Batih (place of torrents or swamps), Hayn (region of adversity), Sijjin (store or dungeon), As-Saqar (place of burning), Athara (place of great cold)
Jain mythology | Naraka, Adho Loka (the lower world)
Japanese mythology/Shinto | Yomi 黄泉, Ne-no-Kuni 根の国, Jigoku 地獄
Jewish/Hebrew mythology  | Sheol, Gehenna, Abaddon, Tehom (in Kabbalah), Tophet, Tzoah Rotachat, Dudael
Korean mythology  | "Ji-Ok" 지옥 地獄
Latvian mythology  | Aizsaule
Malay mythology  | Alam Ghaib (The unseen realm)
Indonesian mythology
Māori mythology | Hawaiki, Rarohenga, Rangi Tuarea, Te Toi-o-nga-Ranga, Uranga-o-Te-Ra
Mapuche mythology  | Pellumawida, Degin, Wenuleufu, Ngullchenmaiwe
Maya mythology | Metnal, Xibalba
Melanesian mythology  | (includes Fijian) Bulu, Burotu, Murimuria, Nabagatai, Tuma
Norse mythology  | Gimlé, Hel, Niflhel, Vingólf
Oromo mythology  | Ekera
Persian mythology  | Duzakh
Philippine mythology  | Kasanaan
Polynesian mythology  | Avaiki, Bulotu, Iva, Lua-o-Milu, Nga- Atua, Pulotu, Rangi Tuarea, Te Toi-o-nga-Ranga, Uranga-o-Te-Ra
Pueblo mythology  | Shipap
Roman mythology  | Inferi, Avernus
Romanian mythology  | Tărâmul Celălalt
Slavic mythology  | Nav, Podsvetie, Peklo, Vyraj
Sumerian mythology  | Kur, Hubur
Turko-Mongol  | Tamağ
Vodou mythology  | Guinee
Wagawaga (New Guinea) mythology  | Hiyoyoa

## Underworld figures

This list includes rulers or guardians of the underworld in various mythologies, with links to corresponding articles.

Aboriginal mythology  | Baiame (Kamilaroi), Eingana

|

Akkadian mythology  | Allu, Anu, Anunnaku, Ereshkigal, Etemmu, Gallu, Humbaba, Mamitu, Nergal, Utnapishtim
Albanian mythology  | E Bukura e Dheut
Turko-Mongol  | Erlik
Armenian mythology  | Spandaramet
Aztec mythology  | Mictlantecuhtli, Mictecacihuatl, Chalmecacihuilt, Chalmecatl
Babylonian mythology  | Erra, Nergal, Ninlil, Sursunabu, Ur-shanabi, Utnapishtim
Balinese mythology | Batara Kala, Setesuyara
Bon mythology  | gNyan
Buddhist mythology  | Yama
Canaanite mythology  | Mot, Arsay
Celtic mythology  | Aed, Arawn, Cwn Annwn, Donn, Gwyn ap Nudd, Manannán mac Lir, Pwyll
Chinese mythology  | Gui, Yanluo
Christian mythology  | Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub
Egyptian mythology  | Aken, Aker (strictly only the gatekeeper), Am-heh, Amunet, Ammit, Andjety, Anubis, Apep, Apis, Astennu, Ha, Imiut (if the Imiut was ever considered a god), Isis, Mehen, Naunet, Nehebkau, Nephthys, Nun, Nut, Osiris, Ptah, Seker, Thoth
Elamite mythology  | Jabru
Estonian mythology  | Vanapagan
Etruscan mythology  | Charun, Culsu, Februus, Mania, Mantus, Nethuns, Tuchulcha, Vanth
Finnish mythology  | Kalma, Kipu-Tyttö, Kivutar, Lovitar, Surma, Tuonen akka, Tuonetar, Tuoni, Vammatar
Greek mythology | Cerberus, Charon, Hadēs, Pluto, Keres, Persephone, Thánatos
Georgian mythology  | sasuleti
Haida mythology  | Ta'xet, Tia
Hattian mythology, Hittite mythology  | Lelwani
Hinduism | Yama
Hopi mythology | Maasaw
Hungarian mythology  | Ördög
Ibo mythology  | Ala
Incan mythology  | Supay, Vichama
Indonesian mythology (ancient Javananese, Sundanese and Balinese)  | Batara Kala guardian for sinners souls' underworld, Dewi Sri guardess for the righteous souls' underworld
Inuit mythology  | Pana, Sedna
Islamic mythology  | Maalik as the guardian of the jahannam hell's door, Zabaniyya, angels punishing the sinners. Ifrit, demon from the underworld in Islamic folk-lore.
Japanese mythology  | Hotoke, Izanami-no-Mikoto, Jikininki, Shikome, Shitidama, Shiryō, Susanoo-no-Mikoto, Yama
Kassite mythology  | Dur
Khmer mythology  | Preas Eyssaur
Latvian mythology  | Veļi, Velu mate, Zemes mate
Levantine mythology  | Mot, Arsay
Lunda mythology  | Kalunga
Maori mythology  | Hina, Hine-nui-te-Po, Kewa, Mahiuki, Rohe, Whiro
Maya mythology | Xibalba
Melanesian mythology  | (includes Fijian mythology) Degei, Ratumaibulu, Samulayo
Narragansett mythology  | Chepi
Navaho mythology  | Estsanatlehi
Niquiran mythology  | Mictanteot
Norse mythology  | Garmr, Hel, Ran
Ugrian mythology  | Heini-iki
Orokolo mythology  | Kiavari
Persian mythology  | Angra Mainyu, Azhi Dahaka, Peri
Philippine mythology  | Magwayen/Maguayen, Sidapa
Phoenician mythology  | Horon
Phrygian mythology  | Men
Polynesian mythology  | Hikuleo, Hina, Hine-nui-te-Po, Kanaloa, Kiho-tumu, Makea Tutara, Mahiuki, Mahu-ike, Marama, Mauri, Merau, Milu, Miru, Rimu, Rohe, Whiro
Prussian mythology  | Picullus
Pueblo mythology  | Iyatiku
Roma (Gypsy) mythology  | Beng
Roman mythology  | Cerberus, Dea Tacita, Dis Pater, Egestes, Fames, Inferi Dii, Larenta, Letum, Libitina, Mors, Orcus, Pluto, Proserpina, Viduus
Romanian mythology  | Diavolu, Satana, Necuratu, Scaraoschi
Russian mythology  | Dyavol, Satanaya
Saami mythology  | Yambe-akka
Salish mythology  | Amotken
Siberian mythology  | Chebeldei, Kul
Slavic mythology  | Crnobog, Flins, Marzana, Nyia, Veles (god)
Sumerian mythology  | Edimmu, Ekimmu, Endukugga, Enmesarra, Ereshkigal, Gidim, Gula, Irkalla, Kur, Namtar, Nergal, Neti, Nindukugga, Ninlil, Urshanabi, Ziusudra
Syrian mythology  | Reshep
Tamil mythology  | Cur
Thracian mythology  | Heros
Turkic mythology | Erlik
Vodou | Baron Cimetière, Baron La Croix, Baron Samedi, Ghede, Maman Brigitte, Marassa Jumeaux
Wagawaga mythology  | Tumudurere
Yoruba mythology  | Esu, Oya
Yurak mythology  | Nga
Zuni mythology  | Uhepono

## See also

* Afterlife
* Hollow Earth
* Otherworld
* World Tree, a tree that connects the heavens, the earth, and the underworld in a number of spiritual belief systems

## References

1. ↑ "Underworld". The free dictionary. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/underworld.
2. ↑ Isabelle Loring Wallace, Jennie Hirsh, Contemporary Art and Classical Myth (2011), p. 295.
3. ↑ Radcliffe G. Edmonds, III, Myths of the Underworld Journey: Plato, Aristophanes, and the 'Orphic' Gold Tablets (2004), p. 9.
4. ↑ Jon Mills, Underworlds: Philosophies of the Unconscious from Psychoanalysis to Metaphysics (2014), p. 1.
5. ↑ Evans Lansing Smith, The Descent to the Underworld in Literature, Painting, and Film, 1895-1950 (2001), p. 257.
6. ↑ Evans Lansing Smith, The Descent to the Underworld in Literature, Painting, and Film, 1895-1950 (2001), p. 7.
7. ↑ T. Williams, J. Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, Heylin, 1858.

## External links

* v
* t
* e

Underworlds

* Aztec mythology
* Mictlan
* Buddhism
* Naraka
* Chinese mythology
* Diyu
* Christianity
* Lake of fire
* Outer darkness
* Purgatory
* Limbo
* Hades
* Christian views on Hell
* Ancient Egyptian religion
* Duat
* Germanic and Norse paganism
* Hel (heimr)
* Náströnd
* Niflheim
* Niflhel
* Greek and Roman mythology
* Asphodel Meadows
* Elysium
* Erebus
* Fortunate Isles
* Hades
* Orcus
* Tartarus
* Hell
* Hinduism
* Naraka
* Patala
* Islam
* Jahannam
* Sijjin
* Jainism
* Naraka
* Judaism
* Abaddon
* Azazel
* Dudael
* Gehenna
* Sheol
* Tehom
* Tophet
* Tzoah Rotachat
* Maya mythology
* Xibalba
* Mesopotamian mythology
* Irkalla
* Persian mythology
* Duzakh
* Slavic mythology
* Nav
* Shinto
* Yomi
* Sumerian mythology
* Kur
* Turkic-Mongolian
* Tamag
* Welsh mythology
* Annwn

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