1. Greek Mythology: THE UNDERWORLD! Middle School
Twelfth Grade

2. Welcome to the ….
UNDERWORLD!!!!

3. Quick Review
Recently, you learned that Greek Mythology had a purpose for the ancient Greek civilization.

4. Death
Like many civilizations, the Greeks had a fascination with DEATH.
Today we are going to learn how the ancient Greeks dealt with this issue.

5. Hades Had drawn the worst lot
Goal: to gather as many subjects as possible
Falls in love with Persephone…kidnaps her…
There is a big PROBLEM!

6. Mom is the Goddess Harvest!
Persephone’s mother is Ceres…her job is to provide the earth with crops, vegetation, flowers, and so on.
Upon realizing her daughter was missing… she mourned…
She strikes deal with Hades…the four seasons is explained

7. Let’s Start the Journey!
According to the Greeks:
Upon death, all mortals must be given a proper religious funeral.
This is vital if they are to complete the Underworld journey.

8. First Step
Upon turning into a shade, the dead gather at the river Styx and wait for the boatman named Charon.
*must have $$
*some are refused passage…must wander on river banks

9. Second Step
Charon transports the shades and takes them to a tribunal. There, the shades are judged in accordance to their deeds and characteristics.
An artist’s depiction of the river Styx.

10. Where Shades are Sent
The Greeks had two major places set for shades. One is called the Elysian Fields.
*brave warriors
Hades showed mercy only once.

11. Tartarus!!!!!!!!!!!
The other place shades are sent to …is not a good place! Tartarus is guarded by a three-headed dog named Cerberus!
*mean
*makes sure that you check in…but never check out!

12. Shades that ended up there
Ixion: Marries Dia and promises father-in-law valuable present.
*fails to pay
*father-in-law steals horses
*Ixion plays it cool…invites him for dinner …pushes him into hot coals
*becomes outlaw
*Zeus feels sorry for him…invites him over…things get cloudy …Ixion goes after “Hera”…is punished…is now pinned to a wheel…forever
Ixion as he is bound to a wheel…forever.

13. Who is down there! King Tantalus: Had invited the Olympian gods over…
While preparing…freaked out.
*ends up serving a special meal

14. Others Down Under! The Danaids 50 sisters were set to marry 50 men
*father manipulates the girls
All but one do as fathers says
They are forced to transport water forever

15. Let’s get to work!