Underworld

The underworld is the world of the dead in various religious traditions, located below the world of the living. 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”. 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. Persons having social status were dressed and equipped in order to better navigate the underworld.

Yggdrasil, a modern attempt to reconstruct the Norse world tree which connects the heavens, the world, and the underworld.

Yggdrasil, a modern attempt to reconstruct the Norse world tree which connects the heavens, the world, and the underworld.

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. 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”.

By mythology

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

Albanian mythology Ferri
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
Finnish mythology Tuonela
Georgian mythology Kveskneli
Germanic mythology Hel, Niflheim
Greek mythology 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 Barzakh, Jahannam/An-Nār (hellfire), Jahīm, Samūm, Sijjin, Hāwiya
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 Inferno, 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
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.
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
Ob-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

Adapted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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