The Ancient Greeks' Belief in the Underworld

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A dark, silent, formless void, a perpetual abyss without orientation, this is essentially what the Greeks believed was the origin of the world. The ancient Greeks while trying to further explain the world, invented beguiling myths (Evie). From these myths a world of human like gods and goddesses was formed (Evie). Through narratives, legends, and myths this world justified various abstract ideas, thus creating Greek mythology (Evie). A central element in Greek mythology is the underworld. The underworld is considered to be the place where one’s soul goes to after death. The underworld has played a vital role in Greek culture by serving as an incentive to live a virtuous life, which in turn has affected all aspects of Greek life.

The world of the dead or the underworld was viewed as a subterranean realm (Joe).

The ancient Greeks believed that almost all mortals would reside in the underworld after their death. Those fortunate few that did not either gained a place at Mount Olympus or became gods or goddesses themselves (Joe). The underworld was ruled by Hades although there were many other deities in the underworld. Hades acquired the underworld when he and his two brothers, Zeus and Poseidon, divided the universe (Joe). Zeus received the sky, Poseidon received the sea and Hades received the underworld.

The underworld was divided into several regions. There were five subterranean rivers which flowed through the underworld (Joe). They were Acheron (Woe), Cocytus (Wailing), Lethe (Forgetfulness), Phlegethon (Fire), and Styx (Abhorrence) (Joe). All souls would have to travel through the five rivers before they were judged and sent to their final residing place to wander for all eternity. The underworld also consisted of two mai...

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...ir gods and goddesses they would be virtuous. The stories and myths of the underworld and those unfortunate souls left to wander for eternity gave incentive to be righteous and please their deities. The Greeks would

live their lives accordingly so that they may truly be at peace in the afterlife. To avoid being sentenced to wander aimlessly in the after life the Greeks took every possible precaution.

The underworld in Greek mythology served to encourage the Greeks to live a righteous life. In the desire to please the gods and goddesses and to prevent eternal wanderings in the underworld the Greeks changed their lives. Within the changes to their traditions, practices, and daily lives, the Greeks altered their culture. The mythologies of the dark, ominous underworld created a thriving Greek culture with many of its only practices, traditions, and rituals.

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