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The underworld is the world of the dead in various religious traditions, located below the world of the living.[1] 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".[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 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] Persons having 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 mythologyEdit


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[7]
Finnish mythology Tuonela
Georgian mythology Kveskneli
Germanic mythology Hel, Niflheim
Greek mythology 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 Jahannam (hell), layers of earth: Basit (plain), Thaqil (region of distress), Batih (place of torrents or swamps), Hayn (region of adversity), Sijjin (store or dungeon), As-Saqar (place of burning), Athara (place of great cold)
Jain mythology Naraka, Adho Loka (the lower world)
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
Norse mythology Gimlé, Hel, Niflhel, Vingólf
Oromo mythology Ekera
Persian mythology Duzakh
Philippine mythology Kasanaan
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 figuresEdit


Aboriginal mythology Baiame (Kamilaroi), Eingana
Albanian mythology E Bukura e Dheut
Turko-Mongol Erlik
Armenian mythology Spandaramet
Aztec mythology Mictlantecuhtli, Mictecacihuatl, Chalmecacihuilt, Chalmecatl
Balinese mythology Batara Kala, Setesuyara
Bon mythology gNyan
Buddhist mythology Yama
Canaanite mythology Mot, Arsay
Chinese mythology Gui, Yanluo
Christian mythology Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub
Elamite mythology Jabru
Estonian mythology Vanapagan
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
Inuit mythology Pana, Sedna
Islamic mythology Maalik as the guardian of the jahannam hell's door, Zabaniyya, angels punishing the sinners.
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
Prussian mythology Picullus
Pueblo mythology Iyatiku
Roma (Gypsy) mythology Beng
Romanian mythology Diavolu, Satana, Necuratu, Scaraoschi
Russian mythology Dyavol, Satanaya
Saami mythology Yambe-akka
Salish mythology Amotken
Siberian mythology Chebeldei, Kul
Syrian mythology Reshep
Tamil mythology Cur
Thracian mythology Heros
Turkic mythology Erlik
Wagawaga mythology Tumudurere
Yoruba mythology Esu, Oya
Yurak mythology Nga
Zuni mythology Uhepono

See alsoEdit


  7. ^ T. Williams, J. Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, Heylin, 1858.

External linksEdit

  •   Media related to Hell at Wikimedia Commons