The Labyrinth as Katabasis = Descent into the Underworld The Labyrinth Descent into the Underworld
The Cyclops’ Cave as Katabasis
Odsysseus’ Descent into the Underworld Odysseus and Tiresias Odysseus and Elpenor Odysseus also meets Agamamnon and Achilles See Odyssey XI
Other Descents: Heracles and Cerberus Museum Collection: Musée du Louvre, Paris, France Catalogue Number: Louvre E701 Beazley Archive Number: N/A Ware: Caeretan Black Figure Shape: Hydria Painter: -- Date: ca 530 BC Period: Archaic
Cerberus
Hercules seizing Cerberus | Hercules approaches Cerberus as Athena looks on. Note the doric column and frieze used to indicate the palace of Hades. Andocides Painter (Paris, Louvre )
... And my Conductor, with his spans extended, Took of the earth, and with his fists well filled, He threw it into those rapacious gullets (Inferno VI 25-37) Cerberus in Dante’s Inferno Etching by Gustave Doré ( )
Other Descents: Theseus Heracles Rescuing Theseus From the Chair of Forgetfulness
Aeneas’ Katabasis Sibyl leading Aeneas through the Underworld Jan Breughel II ( ) Brussels, Royal Museum of Ancient Art of Belgium
Orpheus and Eurydice Relief Sculpture, c. Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples. (From L to R: Hermes, Eurydice, Orpheus)
Orpheus Leading EurydiceOrpheus Leading Eurydice. Camille Corot, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.