The underworld is one of the most interesting and mystifying ideas of Greek literature. There are various myths of the location to this world, what souls experience there, and how to access it. Multiple authors and bards contributed to the creation of the underworld, each adding or tweaking previous portrayals. In particular, Homer and Hesiod spoke of the underworld in many of their works. Hesiod focuses more on describing the creation of the underworld, its roots, and primary rulers. Homer’s approach to the underworld is twofold. In the Iliad, he primarily utilizes the underworld as a concept that is constantly in the back of all the warriors minds. In the Odyssey, Homer goes into much more detail. Book Eleven, sometime referred to as the
…show more content…
Persephone is the daughter of Demeter, who is Hades’ sister and goddess of the Harvest. One day, Persephone was happily picking flowers until Hades emerged from the ground with a chariot of black horses and kidnapped his niece. He dragged her down to the underworld to be his queen. Once Demeter found out she was heartbroken. She said the earth will starve and no crops would grow. On Zeus’ command, Hades agreed to let Persephone go, but before she left, he offered her pomegranate seeds. If one eats food in the underworld, they must stay there forever. Demeter was furious at Hades for tricking her daughter. Eventually, a deal was worked out where Persephone would spend part of the year in Hades, and the rest with her mother. The number of months vary per myth, sometimes having to do with the number of pomegranate seeds Persephone ate. Demeter reluctantly agreed to this deal, but proclaimed that while Persephone is in Hades, no crops will grow. This was believed by some to be the reason behind the …show more content…
Depending on what entrance you arrive from, you will encounter different things. For example, if you go through the Oceanus entrance, like Odysseus did in the Odyssey, you will encounter the Grove of Persephone. (Odyssey, ) If you go through the Cumaean entrance, you will arrive at the dwelling spot of Grief, Anxiety, Diseases, Old Age, Fear, Hunger, Death, Agony, Hypnos, and other creatures. You would also encounter the Elm of False Dreams. Aeneas came to the underworld through this entrance in the Aeneid. Eventually, you would make their way to the crossing point on the river. A ferryman named Charon will take you across the river Styx to the rest of the underworld. However, if a soul does not have a proper burial and was not given a coin to give to Charon upon their arrival, they cannot cross. Hades does allow souls to go to earth in dream form to make arrangements for a proper funeral. The souls that were properly buried and have payment for Charon are taken in his boat across the river. On the other side, you would be greeted by Cerebus, the huge three headed guard dog. This is the basic setup for almost all Greek bards. However, after this, some works go into more detail. It is said you will go to the Plain of Judgement and meet the three judges of the underworld: Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aiakos. Souls that have led exceptionally
Persephone is the daughter of Demeter, who is Hades’ sister and goddess of the Harvest. One day, Persephone was happily picking flowers until Hades emerged from the ground with a chariot of black horses and kidnapped his niece. He dragged her down to the underworld to be his queen. Once Demeter found out she was heartbroken. She said the earth will starve and no crops would grow. On Zeus’ command, Hades agreed to let Persephone go, but before she left, he offered her pomegranate seeds. If one eats food in the underworld, they must stay there forever. Demeter was furious at Hades for tricking her daughter. Eventually, a deal was worked out where Persephone would spend part of the year in Hades, and the rest with her mother. The number of months vary per myth, sometimes having to do with the number of pomegranate seeds Persephone ate. Demeter reluctantly agreed to this deal, but proclaimed that while Persephone is in Hades, no crops will grow. This was believed by some to be the reason behind the …show more content…
Depending on what entrance you arrive from, you will encounter different things. For example, if you go through the Oceanus entrance, like Odysseus did in the Odyssey, you will encounter the Grove of Persephone. (Odyssey, ) If you go through the Cumaean entrance, you will arrive at the dwelling spot of Grief, Anxiety, Diseases, Old Age, Fear, Hunger, Death, Agony, Hypnos, and other creatures. You would also encounter the Elm of False Dreams. Aeneas came to the underworld through this entrance in the Aeneid. Eventually, you would make their way to the crossing point on the river. A ferryman named Charon will take you across the river Styx to the rest of the underworld. However, if a soul does not have a proper burial and was not given a coin to give to Charon upon their arrival, they cannot cross. Hades does allow souls to go to earth in dream form to make arrangements for a proper funeral. The souls that were properly buried and have payment for Charon are taken in his boat across the river. On the other side, you would be greeted by Cerebus, the huge three headed guard dog. This is the basic setup for almost all Greek bards. However, after this, some works go into more detail. It is said you will go to the Plain of Judgement and meet the three judges of the underworld: Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aiakos. Souls that have led exceptionally