Underworld

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. 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".Isabelle Loring Wallace, Jennie Hirsh, Contemporary Art and Classical Myth (2011), p. 295. 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.Radcliffe G. Edmonds, III, Myths of the Underworld Journey: Plato, Aristophanes, and the 'Orphic' Gold Tablets (2004), p. 9. People with high social status were dressed and equipped in order to better navigate the underworld.Jon Mills, Underworlds: Philosophies of the Unconscious from Psychoanalysis to Metaphysics (2014), p. 1.

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.Evans Lansing Smith, The Descent to the Underworld in Literature, Painting, and Film, 1895–1950 (2001), p. 257. 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".Evans Lansing Smith, The Descent to the Underworld in Literature, Painting, and Film, 1895–1950 (2001), p. 7.

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

Ethnicity, religion, or regionName of underworldAlbanian mythologyFerriAztec mythologyMictlanMesopotamian religion IrkallaBaduy & Sundanese mythologyBuana LarangBuddhismNaraka (also Niraya)Celtic mythologyAnnwn, Mag Mell, DubnosChinese folk religion / TaoismMíngjiè 冥界, Huángquán 黄泉, Diyu 地狱Christian mythology - for sinners Hell, Tartarus, Purgatory, HadesEgyptian religionAaru, Duat, Neter-khertet, AmentiEstonian mythologyToonelaFijian mythologyBurotu, MurimuriaT. Williams, J. Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, Heylin, 1858.Finnish mythologyTuonelaGeorgian mythologyKveskneliGermanic religionHel, Náströnd, NiflhelGreek religion Elysium, Asphodel Meadows, TartarusGuanche mythologyEcheide, GuayotaHinduismPatala, Naraka or YamalokaHittite mythologyDankuš daganzipaš/Dankuš tekan (dark earth)Hopi mythologyMaskiHungarian mythologyAlvilágInca mythologyUku PachaInuit mythologyAdlivunIslamic mythology - for sinnersJahannam, SijjinJainismNaraka, Adho Loka (the lower world)ShintoYomi 黄泉, Ne-no-Kuni 根の国, Jigoku 地獄Jewish mythologySheol; for sinners:Abaddon, Tehom (in Kabbalah), Tophet, Tzoah Rotachat, DudaelKorean mythologyLatvian mythologyAizsauleLithuanian mythologyAnapilis mountainMalay mythologyAlam Ghaib (The unseen realm) Indonesian mythologyMandaeismWorld of Darkness (alma d-hšuka)Māori mythologyHawaiki, Rarohenga, Rangi Tuarea, Te Toi-o-nga-Ranga, Uranga-o-te-rāMapuche mythologyPellumawida, Degin, Wenuleufu, NgullchenmaiweMaya mythologyXibalba or MetnalMelanesian mythology(includes Fijian) Bulu, Burotu, Murimuria, Nabagatai, TumaOromo mythologyEkeraZoroastrianismDuzakhPhilippine mythologyKasanaanPolynesian mythologyAvaiki, Bulotu, Iva, Lua-o-Milu, Nga- Atua, Pulotu, Rangi Tuarea, Te Toi-o-nga-Ranga, Uranga-o-Te-RaPueblo mythologyShipapRoman mythologyOrcus, Inferi Di, AvernusRomanian mythologyTărâmul CelălaltSlavic mythologyNav, VyrajSumerian mythologyKur, HuburTurko-MongolTamağVietnamese mythologyÂm phủ 陰府, Địa ngục 地獄Wagawaga (New Guinea) mythologyHiyoyoa

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

Origin associated deity/spiritsAboriginal mythologyBaiame (Kamilaroi), EinganaAkkadian mythologyAllu, Anu, Anunnaku, Ereshkigal, Etemmu, Gallu, Humbaba, Mamitu, Nergal, UtnapishtimAlbanian mythologyE Bukura e DheutTurko-MongolErlikArmenian mythologySpandarametAztec mythologyMictlantecuhtli & Mictecacihuatl (advocations: Chalmecacihualt, Chalmecatl)Babylonian mythologyErra, Nergal, Ninlil, Sursunabu, Ur-shanabi, UtnapishtimBalinese mythologyBatara Kala, SetesuyaraBon mythologygNyanBuddhismKing YamaCanaanite mythologyMot, ArsayCeltic mythologyAed, Arawn, Cwn Annwn, Donn, Gwyn ap Nudd, Manannán mac Lir, Pwyll, Nemain, The Morrigan, Taranis (sometimes in popular culture).Chinese folk religionYanluo Wang, Heibai Wuchang, Ox-Head and Horse-Face, Meng Po, Zhong KuiChristianitySatan, Lucifer, Beelzebub, BelialEgyptian mythologyAken, 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, WepwawetElamite mythologyJabruEstonian mythologyVanapaganEtruscan mythologyCharun, Culsu, Februus, Mania, Mantus, Nethuns, Tuchulcha, VanthFijian mythologyDegeiFinnish mythologyKalma, Kipu-Tyttö, Kivutar, Lovitar, Surma, Tuonen akka, Tuonetar, Tuoni, VammatarGreek mythologyCerberus, Charon, Hades, Pluto, Keres, Persephone, Thánatos, Eris, Hermes, Hera, HecateGeorgian mythologysasuletiGermanic religionGarmr, Hel, Rán, NíðhöggHaida mythologyTa'xet, TiaHattian mythology, Hittite mythologyLelwani, KumarbiHinduismYamaHopi mythologyMaasawHungarian mythologyÖrdögIbo mythologyAlaIncan mythologySupay, VichamaIndonesian mythology (ancient Javananese, Sundanese and Balinese)Batara Kala guardian for sinners souls' underworld, Dewi Sri guardess for the righteous souls' underworldIslamIblis, Shayatin, Maalik (Guardian)Inuit mythologyPana, SednaJapanese mythologyIzanami-no-Mikoto, Jikininki, Shikome, Shiryō, Susanoo-no-MikotoJudaismSatan, Malach HaMavet ("Angel of Death") (both are associated with Samael), Malachei Habala ("Sabotage Angels"), DumahKassite mythologyDurKhmer mythologyPreas EyssaurLatvian mythologyVeļi, Veļu māte, Zemes māteLithuanian mythologyVelnias, VelinasLevantine mythologyMot, ArsayLunda mythologyKalungaMandaean mythologyRuha, Ur, Krun, Gaf, Qin, Zahreil, Lilith, Niuli, Saṭani, Latabi, Nalai, Gadulta, Anathan, Giu, Shdum, Zartai-Zartanai, Hag, MagMāori mythologyHina, Hine-nui-te-pō, Kewa, Mahiuki, Rohe, WhiroMaya mythologyAh Puch (Lords: Hun-Came & Vucub-Came)Melanesian mythology(includes Fijian mythology) Degei, Ratumaibulu, SamulayoNarragansett mythologyChepiNavaho mythologyEstsanatlehiNiquiran mythologyMictanteotHeini-ikiOrokolo mythologyKiavariPersian mythologyAngra Mainyu, Azhi Dahaka, Div (mythology)Philippine mythologyMagwayen, SidapaPhoenician mythologyHoronPhrygian mythologyMenPolynesian mythologyHikuleo, Hina, Hine-nui-te-Po, Kanaloa, Kiho-tumu, Makea Tutara, Mahuika, Mahu-ika, Marama, Mauri, Merau, Milu, Miru, Rimu, Rohe, WhiroPrussian mythologyPicullusPueblo mythologyIyatikuRoma (Gypsy) mythologyBengRoman mythologyCerberus, Dea Tacita, Dis Pater, Egestes, Fames, Inferi Di, Larenta, Letum, Libitina, Mors, Orcus, Pluto, Proserpina, ViduusRomanian mythologyDiavolu, Satana, Necuratu, ScaraoschiRussian mythologyDyavol, SatanayaSaami mythologyYambe-akkaSalish mythologyAmotkenSiberian mythologyChebeldei, KulSlavic mythologyCrnobog, Flins, Marzana, Nyia, Veles (god)Sumerian mythologyEdimmu, Ekimmu, Endukugga, Enmesharra, Ereshkigal, Gidim, Nintinugga, Irkalla, Kur, Namtar, Nergal, Bitu, Nindukugga, Ninlil, Urshanabi, ZiusudraSyrian mythologyReshepTamil mythologyCurThracian mythologyHerosTurkic mythologyErlikVietnamese mythologyQuảng 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 mythologyTumudurereWelsh mythologyArawnYoruba mythologyEsu, OyaYurak mythologyNgaZuni mythologyUhepono

Underworld

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