The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living.[1] Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underworld.

Yggdrasil, a modern attempt to reconstruct the Norse world tree which connects the heavens, the earth 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 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 the 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] People with high 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]

By religion

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This list includes underworlds in various religious traditions, with links to corresponding articles:

Ethnicity, religion, or region Name of underworld
Albanian mythology Ferri
Aztec mythology Mictlan
Mesopotamian religion Irkalla
Baduy & Sundanese mythology Buana Larang
Buddhism Naraka (also Niraya)
Celtic mythology Annwn, Mag Mell, Dubnos
Chinese folk religion / Taoism Míngjiè 冥界, Huángquán 黄泉, Dìyù 地狱
Christian mythology Hell, Tártaro, Purgatory, Hades
Egyptian religion Aaru, Duat, Neter-khertet, Amenti
Estonian mythology Toonela
Fijian mythology Burotu, Murimuria[7]
Finnish mythology Tuonela
Georgian mythology Kveskneli
Germanic religion Hel, Náströnd, Niflhel
Greek religion Elysium, Asphodel Meadows, Tartarus
Guanche mythology

Echeide, Guayota

Hinduism 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, Sijjin
Jainism Naraka, Adho Loka (the lower world)
Shinto Yomi 黄泉, Ne-no-Kuni 根の国, Jigoku 地獄
Jewish mythology Sheol, Abaddon, Tehom (in Kabbalah), Tophet, Tzoah Rotachat, Dudael
Korean mythology Korean지옥; Hanja地獄; RRJiok
Latvian mythology Aizsaule
Lithuanian mythology Anapilis mountain
Malay mythology Alam Ghaib (The unseen realm)
Indonesian mythology
Mandaeism World of Darkness (alma d-hšuka)
Māori mythology Hawaiki, Rarohenga, Rangi Tuarea, Te Toi-o-nga-Ranga, Uranga-o-te-rā
Mapuche mythology Pellumawida, Degin, Wenuleufu, Ngullchenmaiwe
Maya mythology Xibalba or Metnal
Melanesian mythology (includes Fijian) Bulu, Burotu, Murimuria, Nabagatai, Tuma
Oromo mythology Ekera
Zoroastrianism 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 Orcus, Inferi Di, Avernus
Romanian mythology Tărâmul Celălalt
Slavic mythology Nav,Vyraj
Sumerian mythology Kur, Hubur
Turko-Mongol Tamağ
Vietnamese mythology Âm phủ 陰府, Địa ngục 地獄
Wagawaga (New Guinea) mythology Hiyoyoa

Underworld figures

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

Origin associated deity/spirits
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 (advocations: Chalmecacihualt, Chalmecatl)
Babylonian mythology Erra, Nergal, Ninlil, Sursunabu, Ur-shanabi, Utnapishtim
Balinese mythology Batara Kala, Setesuyara
Bon mythology gNyan
Buddhism King Yama
Canaanite mythology Mot, Arsay
Celtic mythology Aed, Arawn, Cwn Annwn, Donn, Gwyn ap Nudd, Manannán mac Lir, Pwyll, Nemain, The Morrigan, Taranis (sometimes in popular culture).
Chinese folk religion Yanluo Wang, Heibai Wuchang, Ox-Head and Horse-Face, Meng Po, Zhong Kui
Christianity Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub, Belial
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, Wepwawet
Elamite mythology Jabru
Estonian mythology Vanapagan
Etruscan mythology Charun, Culsu, Februus, Mania, Mantus, Nethuns, Tuchulcha, Vanth
Fijian mythology Degei
Finnish mythology Kalma, Kipu-Tyttö, Kivutar, Lovitar, Surma, Tuonen akka, Tuonetar, Tuoni, Vammatar
Greek mythology Cerberus, Charon, Hades, Pluto, Keres, Persephone, Thánatos, Eris, Hermes, Hera
Georgian mythology sasuleti
Germanic religion Garmr, Hel, Rán, Níðhögg
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
Islam Maalik (Guardian)
Inuit mythology Pana, Sedna
Japanese mythology Izanami-no-Mikoto, Jikininki, Shikome, Shiryō, Susanoo-no-Mikoto
Judaism Satan, Malach HaMavet ("Angel of Death") (both are associated with Samael), Malachei Habala ("Sabotage Angels"), Dumah
Kassite mythology Dur
Khmer mythology Preas Eyssaur
Latvian mythology Veļi, Veļu māte, Zemes māte
Lithuanian mythology Velnias, Velinas
Levantine mythology Mot, Arsay
Lunda mythology Kalunga
Mandaean mythology Ruha, Ur, Krun, Gaf, Qin, Zahreil, Lilith, Niuli, Saṭani, Latabi, Nalai, Gadulta, Anathan, Giu, Shdum, Zartai-Zartanai, Hag, Mag
Maori mythology Hina, Hine-nui-te-Po, Kewa, Mahiuki, Rohe, Whiro
Maya mythology Ah Puch (Lords: Hun-Came & Vucub-Came)
Melanesian mythology (includes Fijian mythology) Degei, Ratumaibulu, Samulayo
Narragansett mythology Chepi
Navaho mythology Estsanatlehi
Niquiran mythology Mictanteot
Ob-Ugrian mythology Heini-iki
Orokolo mythology Kiavari
Persian mythology Angra Mainyu, Azhi Dahaka, Div (mythology)
Philippine mythology Magwayen/Maguayen, Sidapa
Phoenician mythology Horon
Phrygian mythology Men
Polynesian mythology Hikuleo, Hina, Hine-nui-te-Po, Kanaloa, Kiho-tumu, Makea Tutara, Mahuika, Mahu-ika, 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 Di, 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, Enmesharra, Ereshkigal, Gidim, Nintinugga, Irkalla, Kur, Namtar, Nergal, Bitu, Nindukugga, Ninlil, Urshanabi, Ziusudra
Syrian mythology Reshep
Tamil mythology Cur
Thracian mythology Heros
Turkic mythology Erlik
Vietnamese mythology Quảng Cung, Thập điện Diêm Vương, Hắc Bạch vô thường (couple of messengers lead the souls of the dead to the Âm phủ), Đầu Trâu Mặt Ngựa (has the same task as Hắc Bạch vô thường), Mạnh Bà (the maker of the oblivion soup called cháo lú by the Vietnamese)
Wagawaga mythology Tumudurere
Welsh mythology Annwfn or Annwn
Yoruba mythology Esu, Oya
Yurak mythology Nga
Zuni mythology Uhepono

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Underworld". The free dictionary. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  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.
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