The Underworld

The underworld is hidden in the earth. It is the kingdom of the dead and ruled by Hades. Hades is a god who is greatly concerned with increasing his subjects. Those whose calling increase the number of dead are seen favorably. He doesn’t allow anybody to leave the Underworld.

The underworld is not particularly unpleasent. It is rather like a miserable dream, full of shadows, without sunlight or hope. A joyless place where the dead slowly fade into nothingness. Geographically, is surrounded by a series of rivers: The Acheron , The Cocytus , The Phlegethon, The Styx, and The Lethe. Within the kingdom is Hades palace, and deep inside is situated the Tartarus which is used as the prison of some Titans.

Upon death a soul is lead by Hermes to the entrance of the underworld and the ferry across the Acheron. Only those who can pay with coins can go to the Underworld. The rest are trapped between two worlds. The souls then enter and a giant dog with three heads, Cerberus, will allow all to enter but, none to leave. The souls then appear before a panel of three judges, Rhadamantus, Minos, and Aeacus, who pass sentence. The ones who lived very good go to the Elysian Fields. Others are singled out for special treatment, in the Punishment or in the Asphodel fields.