A Tour of Hades

Entrance Locating the entrance was difficult. The dead had to discover the cave and follow the path inside. Originally, the Greeks believed the underworld was across the Ocean. When travel to far islands ruined that theory, the underworld changed to under the world, in the center of the earth. The dead were called shades because the soul was a shadow of its original self.

Acheron River of woe, sadness, or affliction Acheron was originally a son of Gaea but was said to have quenched the thirst of the Titans during the Titan/Olympian war, and Zeus had him thrown into the underworld to become the first river.

Charon the official ferry operator of the underworld He ferried the dead across Acheron (some myths say on the river Styx). An obolus, or coin of payment, was required. No money, no passage. The soul would have to wander the banks of Acheron for eternity. The Greeks put a coin in the dead person’s mouth or on the eyes during burial for this purpose.

Erebus—Judgment Area Hades had 3 sections: Erebus, Tartarus, and the Elysium Fields. Erebus was a place through which all the dead had to pass. Since Hades was for ALL the dead, whether good or bad, judgment followed.

The 3 Judges Aeacus (son of Zeus and Aegina) judged Europeans. Rhadamanthus (son of Zeus and Europa) judged the people from Asia. Minos (also the son of Zeus and Europa) judged the difficult cases. The judges would send the dead to Tartarus for punishment or the Elysium Fields for rest.

Cocytus River of lamentation or wailing

The 3 Fates 3 women who spun, measured, and cut the thread of life. They were responsible for the dead person being there in the first place.

The Furies and Nemesis The furies had serpent hair and blood dripping from their eyes. They pursued sinners on earth. Nemesis, the spirit of fair punishment, was a sister to the Fates. She gave punishments and rewards.

Hecate Goddess of magic charms and enchantments—goddess of witchcraft and sorcery

Styx River with 9 loops that surrounds the underworld Originally, she was a daughter of the Titans. She helped the Olympians in the war, so she became the river of the gods. If the gods swore by her, the promise was unbreakable.

Cerberus Watchdog at the gates of Tartarus. He had three heads, and venom dripped from the mouths. He had a serpent or dragon tail. He would let souls in, but not out. However, he could be bribed with honey cake or with sweet music.

Phelgethon River of fire; led into and surrounded Tartarus, the place of eternal punishment

Tartarus Punishment section of the underworld Punishments were specific and special for the sinner…chosen just for them Gates of Bronze, surrounded by fire

Sisyphus Sinner—He died, but by a trick escaped from the underworld to return to earth. He was recaptured and punished by rolling a rock up a hill, only to have it roll back down each time.

Tantalus Sinner—He served the gods human flesh to eat. For his punishment, he stands forever in a pool of water, unable to drink, and within reach of fruit trees, but unable to eat.

Ixion Sinner—He showed his disrespect to the gods by attempting to win the love of Hera. For his punishment, he is forced to roll forever on a wheel of fire throughout Tartarus.

Danaids Sinners (50 sisters)—They were engaged to 50 male cousins. For some reason, they went through with the marriages, then 49 of them killed their husbands on the wedding night (one sister couldn’t do it). As punishment, they must forever fill a barrel with water from a nearby stream, but the water had to be carried in a sieve.

Thanatos If the dead person wasn’t supposed to be punished in Tartarus, they went on to the Abode of Sleep. There, the soul met: Thanatos/Mors (death) Hypnos/Somnus (sleep) Morpheus (son of sleep and the god of dreams) brothers

Lethe River of forgetfulness One cup would make the soul forget the past.

Elysium Fields Some myths have this as a place of happiness and peace. Other myths show this as a place of nothingness—not a place of paradise.

Grove of Persephone This was a grove of black poplar trees and sterile willows, for nothing can grow there.