{{Short description|World of the dead in various mythologies}} {{Other uses}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}} [[File:Jan Brueghel the Younger - Juno in the Underworld, 1626-1630.jpg|thumb|''Juno in the Underworld'' by [[Jan Brueghel the Younger]], between 1626 and 1630|291x291px]] The '''underworld''', also known as the '''netherworld''' or '''[[hell]]''', is the [[supernatural]] world of the dead in various [[religious]] traditions and [[myth]]s, located below the world of the living.{{cite web |url = http://www.thefreedictionary.com/underworld |title=Underworld |work=The free dictionary |access-date=1 July 2010 }} [[Chthonic]] is the technical adjective for things of the underworld. [[File:Oweynagat entrance interior view.png|thumb|Oweynagat in [[Rathcroghan]], the entrance to the underworld in [[Irish mythology]]|291x291px]] The concept of an underworld is found in almost every civilization and "may be as old as humanity itself".Isabelle Loring Wallace, Jennie Hirsh, ''Contemporary Art and Classical Myth'' (2011), p. 295. Common features of underworld [[myth]]s are accounts of [[Katabasis#Trip into the underworld|living people making journeys to the underworld]], often for some [[hero]]ic purpose. Other myths reinforce traditions that the 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.Radcliffe G. Edmonds, III, ''Myths of the Underworld Journey: Plato, Aristophanes, and the 'Orphic' Gold Tablets'' (2004), p. 9. People with high social status were dressed and equipped in order to better navigate the underworld.Jon Mills, ''Underworlds: Philosophies of the Unconscious from Psychoanalysis to Metaphysics'' (2014), p. 1. 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.Evans Lansing Smith, ''The Descent to the Underworld in Literature, Painting, and Film, 1895–1950'' (2001), p. 257. 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".Evans Lansing Smith, ''The Descent to the Underworld in Literature, Painting, and Film, 1895–1950'' (2001), p. 7. == By religion == This list includes underworlds in various religious traditions, with links to corresponding articles: {| class="wikitable sortable" !Ethnicity, religion, or region !Name of underworld |- |[[Albanian mythology]] |[[Ferri (mythology)|Ferri]] |- |[[Aztec mythology]] |[[Mictlan]] |- |[[Ancient Mesopotamian underworld|Mesopotamian religion]] | [[Irkalla]] |- |[[Sunda Wiwitan|Baduy & Sundanese mythology]] |Buana Larang |- |[[Buddhism]] |[[Naraka (Buddhism)|Naraka]] (also [[Niraya]]) |- |[[Celtic mythology]] |[[Annwn]], [[Mag Mell]], [[Dubnos]] |- |[[Chinese folk religion]] / [[Taoism]] |[[Diyu|Míngjiè]] [[:zh:陰間|冥界]], [[Diyu|Huángquán]] [[:zh:黃泉|黄泉]], [[Diyu]] [[:zh:地獄 (中華文化)|地狱]] |- |[[Christian mythology]] - for sinners | [[Hell in Christianity|Hell]], [[Tartarus#New Testament|Tartarus]], [[Purgatory]], [[Christian views on Hades|Hades]] |- |[[Ancient Egyptian religion|Egyptian religion]] |[[Aaru]], [[Duat]], Neter-khertet, [[Amenti]] |- |[[Estonian mythology]] |[[Tuonela|Toonela]] |- |[[Fijian mythology]] |[[Burotu]], [[Murimuria]]T. Williams, J. Calvert, ''Fiji and the Fijians'', Heylin, 1858. |- |[[Finnish mythology]] |[[Tuonela]] |- |[[Georgian mythology]] |Kveskneli |- |[[Germanic paganism|Germanic religion]] |[[Hel (location)|Hel]], [[Náströnd]], [[Niflhel]] |- |[[Ancient Greek religion|Greek religion]] |{{Main|Greek underworld}} [[Elysium]], [[Asphodel Meadows]], [[Tartarus]] |- |[[Guanches|Guanche mythology]]|| [[Teide|Echeide]], [[Guayota]] |- |[[Hinduism]] |[[Patala]], [[Naraka (Hinduism)|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]] - for sinners |[[Jahannam]], [[Sijjin]] |- |[[Jain cosmology|Jainism]] |[[Naraka (Jainism)|Naraka]], Adho Loka (the lower world) |- |[[Japanese mythology|Shinto]] |[[Yomi]] 黄泉, [[Ne-no-kuni|Ne-no-Kuni]] 根の国, [[Diyu|Jigoku]] 地獄 |- |[[Jewish mythology]] |[[Sheol]]; for sinners:[[Abaddon]], [[Tehom]] (in [[Kabbalah]]), [[Tophet]], [[Tzoah Rotachat]], [[Dudael]] |- |[[Korean mythology]] |{{Korean|hangul=지옥|hanja=地獄|rr=Jiok}} |- |[[Latvian mythology]] |[[Latvian mythology#Afterlife|Aizsaule]] |- |[[Lithuanian mythology]] |[[Anapilis]] mountain |- |[[Malay mythology]] |! rowspan=2 |''Alam Ghaib'' (The unseen realm) |- |[[Indonesian mythology]] |- |[[Mandaeism]] |[[World of Darkness (Mandaeism)|World of Darkness (''alma d-hšuka'')]] |- |[[Māori mythology]] |[[Hawaiki]], [[Rarohenga]], [[Rangi Tuarea]], [[Te Toi-o-nga-Ranga]], [[Uranga-o-te-rā]] |- |[[Mapuche mythology]] |[[Pellumawida]], [[Degin]], [[Wenuleufu]], [[Ngullchenmaiwe]] |- |[[Maya mythology]] |[[Xibalba]] or [[Metnal]] |- |[[Melanesian mythology]] |(includes Fijian) [[Bulu (Fijian mythology)|Bulu]], [[Burotu]], [[Murimuria]], [[Nabagatai]], Tuma |- |[[Oromo people|Oromo]] mythology |[[Ekera]] |- |[[Zoroastrianism]] |[[Duzakh]] |- |[[Philippine mythology]] |[[Kasanaan]] |- |[[Polynesian mythology]] |[[Avaiki]], [[Bulotu]], [[Iva (mythology)|Iva]], [[Lua-o-Milu]], [[Nga- Atua]], [[Pulotu]], [[Rangi Tuarea]], [[Te Toi-o-nga-Ranga]], [[Uranga-o-Te-Ra]] |- |[[Pueblo]] mythology |[[Sipapu|Shipap]] |- |[[Roman mythology]] |[[Orcus]], [[Di inferi|Inferi Di]], [[Avernus]] |- |[[Romanian mythology]] |[[:ro:Tărâmul Celălalt|Tărâmul Celălalt]] |- |[[Slavic mythology]] |[[Nav (Slavic folklore)|Nav]], [[Vyraj]] |- |[[Sumerian religion|Sumerian mythology]] |[[Kur]], [[Hubur]] |- |[[Turco-Mongol mythology|Turko-Mongol]] |[[Tamag|Tamağ]] |- |[[Vietnamese mythology]] |[[Âm phủ]] 陰府, [[Địa ngục]] 地獄 |- |Wagawaga (New Guinea) mythology |[[Hiyoyoa]] |} == Underworld figures == This list includes rulers or guardians of the underworld in various religious traditions, with links to corresponding articles. {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;" |- ! Origin ! associated deity/spirits |- |[[Aboriginal mythology]] |[[Baiame]] ([[Kamilaroi]]), [[Eingana]] |- |[[Akkadian literature#Mythology|Akkadian mythology]] |[[Alû|Allu]], [[Anu]], [[Anunnaku]], [[Ereshkigal]], [[Etemmu]], [[Gallu]], [[Humbaba]], [[Mamitu]], [[Nergal]], [[Utnapishtim]] |- |[[Albanian mythology]] |[[E Bukura e Dheut]] |- |[[Turco-Mongol mythology|Turko-Mongol]] |[[Erlik]] |- |[[Armenian mythology]] |Spandaramet |- |[[Aztec mythology]] |[[Mictlantecuhtli]] & [[Mictecacihuatl]] (advocations: [[Chalmecacihualt]], [[Chalmecatl]]) |- |[[Babylonian mythology]] |[[Erra (god)|Erra]], [[Nergal]], [[Ninlil]], [[Sursunabu]], [[Ur-shanabi]], [[Utnapishtim]] |- |[[Balinese mythology]] |[[Batara Kala]], [[Setesuyara]] |- |[[Bon]] mythology |gNyan |- |[[Buddhism]] |[[Yama (East Asia)|King Yama]] |- |[[Canaanite mythology]] |[[Mot (Semitic god)|Mot]], [[Arsay]] |- |[[Celtic mythology]] |[[Aed (god)|Aed]], [[Arawn]], [[Cwn Annwn]], [[Donn]], [[Gwyn ap Nudd]], [[Manannán mac Lir]], [[Pwyll]], [[Nemain]], [[The Morrigan]], [[Taranis]] (sometimes in popular culture). |- |[[Chinese folk religion]] |[[Yanluo Wang]], [[Heibai Wuchang]], [[Ox-Head and Horse-Face]], [[Meng Po]], [[Zhong Kui]] |- |[[Christianity]] |[[Satan]], [[Lucifer]], [[Beelzebub]], [[Belial]] |- |[[Egyptian mythology]] |[[Aken (god)|Aken]], [[Aker (god)|Aker]] (strictly only the gatekeeper), [[Am-heh]], [[Amunet]], [[Ammit]], [[Andjety]], [[Anubis]], [[Apep]], [[Apis (Egyptian mythology)|Apis]], [[Astennu]], [[Ha (mythology)|Ha]], [[Imiut fetish|Imiut]] (if the Imiut was ever considered a god), [[Isis]], [[Mehen]], [[Naunet]], [[Nehebkau]], [[Nephthys]], [[Nu (mythology)|Nun]], [[Nut (goddess)|Nut]], [[Osiris]], [[Ptah]], [[Sokar|Seker]], [[Thoth]], [[Wepwawet]] |- |[[Elamite mythology]] |[[Jabru]] |- |[[Estonian mythology]] |[[Vanapagan]] |- |[[Etruscan mythology]] |[[Charun]], [[Culsu]], [[Februus]], [[Mania (deity)|Mania]], [[Mantus]], [[Nethuns]], [[Tuchulcha]], [[Vanth]] |- |[[Fijian mythology]] |[[Degei]] |- |[[Finnish mythology]] |[[Kalma (goddess)|Kalma]], [[Kipu-Tyttö]], [[Kivutar]], [[Lovitar]], [[Surma (Finnish mythology)|Surma]], [[Maaemä|Tuonen akka]], [[Tuonetar]], [[Tuoni]], [[Vammatar]] |- |[[Greek mythology]] |[[Cerberus]], [[Charon]], [[Hades]], [[Pluto (mythology)|Pluto]], [[Keres]], [[Persephone]], [[Thanatos|Thánatos]], [[Eris (mythology)|Eris]], [[Hermes]], [[Hera]], [[Hecate]] |- |[[Georgian mythology]] |[[sasuleti]] |- |[[Germanic paganism|Germanic religion]] |[[Garmr]], [[Hel (goddess)|Hel]], [[Rán]], [[Níðhögg]] |- |[[Haida mythology]] |[[Ta'xet]], [[Tia (goddess)|Tia]] |- |[[Hattian mythology]], [[Hittite mythology]] |[[Lelwani]], [[Kumarbi]] |- |[[Hinduism]] |[[Yama (Hinduism)|Yama]] |- |[[Hopi mythology]] |[[Maasaw]] |- |[[Hungarian mythology]] |[[Ördög]] |- |[[Ibo mythology]] |[[Ala (mythology)|Ala]] |- |[[Incan mythology]] |[[Supay]], [[Vichama]] |- |[[Indonesian mythology]] (ancient Javananese, Sundanese and Balinese) |[[Batara Kala]] guardian for sinners souls' underworld, [[Dewi Sri]] guardess for the righteous souls' underworld |- |[[Islam]] |[[Iblis]], [[Shayatin]], [[Maalik]] (Guardian) |- |[[Inuit mythology]] |[[Pana (mythology)|Pana]], [[Sedna (deity)|Sedna]] |- |[[Japanese mythology]] |[[Izanami|Izanami-no-Mikoto]], [[Jikininki]], [[Shikome]], [[Shiryō]], [[Susanoo-no-Mikoto]] |- |[[Judaism]] |Satan, Malach HaMavet ("Angel of Death") (both are associated with [[Samael]]), Malachei Habala ("Sabotage Angels"), [[Dumah (angel)|Dumah]] |- |[[Kassite mythology]] |[[Dur (mythology)|Dur]] |- |[[Khmer mythology]] |[[Preas Eyssaur]] |- |[[Latvian mythology]] |[[Veļi]], [[Veļu māte]], [[Zemes māte]] |- |[[Lithuanian mythology]] |Velnias, Velinas |- |[[Levantine mythology]] |[[Mot (Semitic god)|Mot]], [[Arsay]] |- |[[Lunda mythology]] |[[Kalunga]] |- |[[Mandaean mythology]] |[[Ruha]], [[Ur (Mandaeism)|Ur]], [[Krun]], [[Gaf (Mandaeism)|Gaf]], [[Qin (Mandaeism)|Qin]], [[Zahreil]], [[Lilith]], [[Hobgoblin|Niuli]], [[Satan|Saṭani]], [[Devil|Latabi]], [[Vampire|Nalai]], [[Ghost|Gadulta]], [[Anathan]], [[Giu (Mandaeism)|Giu]], [[Shdum]], [[Zartai-Zartanai]], [[Hag and Mag|Hag]], [[Hag and Mag|Mag]] |- |[[Māori mythology]] |[[Hina (goddess)|Hina]], [[Hine-nui-te-pō]], [[Kewa (Maori mythology)|Kewa]], [[Mahiuki]], [[Rohe (mythology)|Rohe]], [[Whiro]] |- |[[Maya mythology]] |[[Ah Puch]] (Lords: [[Maya death gods|Hun-Came]] & [[Maya death gods|Vucub-Came]]) |- |[[Melanesian mythology]] |(includes Fijian mythology) [[Degei]], [[Ratumaibulu]], [[Samulayo]] |- |[[Narragansett mythology]] |[[Chepi]] |- |[[Navaho mythology]] |[[Estsanatlehi]] |- |[[Niquiran mythology]] |[[Mictanteot]] |- |{{ill|Ob-Ugrian mythology|ru|Ханты-мансийская мифология}} |[[Heini-iki]] |- |[[Orokolo mythology]] |[[Kiavari]] |- |[[Persian mythology]] |[[Angra Mainyu]], [[Zahhak|Azhi Dahaka]], [[Div (mythology)]] |- |[[Philippine mythology]] |[[Magwayen]], Sidapa |- |[[Phoenician mythology]] |[[Hauron|Horon]] |- |[[Phrygian mythology]] |[[Men (god)|Men]] |- |[[Polynesian mythology]] |[[Hikuleo]], [[Hina (goddess)|Hina]], [[Hine-nui-te-Po]], [[Kanaloa]], [[Kiho-tumu]], [[Makea Tutara]], [[Mahuika]], [[Mahu-ika]], [[Marama (mythology)|Marama]], [[Mauri (mythology)|Mauri]], [[Merau]], [[Milu (mythology)|Milu]], [[Miru (goddess)|Miru]], [[Rimu]], [[Rohe (mythology)|Rohe]], [[Whiro]] |- |[[Prussian mythology]] |[[Picullus]] |- |[[Pueblo mythology]] |[[Iyatiku]] |- |[[Roma (Gypsy) mythology]] |Beng |- |[[Roman mythology]] |[[Cerberus]], [[Dea Tacita]], [[Dis Pater]], [[Egestes]], [[Fames]], [[Di inferi|Inferi Di]], [[Larenta]], [[Letum]], [[Libitina]], [[Mors (mythology)|Mors]], [[Orcus]], [[Pluto (god)|Pluto]], [[Proserpina]], [[Viduus]] |- |[[Romanian mythology]] |[[Diavolu]], [[Satan]]a, [[Nosferatu (word)|Necuratu]], [[Scaraoschi]] |- |[[Russian mythology]] |[[Dyavol]], [[Satanaya]] |- |[[Saami mythology]] |[[Jábmiidáhkká|Yambe-akka]] |- |[[Salish mythology]] |[[Amotken]] |- |[[Siberian mythology]] |[[Chebeldei]], [[Kul (mythology)|Kul]] |- |[[Slavic mythology]] |[[Crnobog]], [[Flins (mythology)|Flins]], [[Marzana]], [[Niya (mythology)|Nyia]], [[Veles (god)]] |- |[[Sumerian religion|Sumerian mythology]] |[[Edimmu]], [[Ekimmu]], [[Lugaldukuga|Endukugga]], [[Enmesharra]], [[Ereshkigal]], [[Gidim]], [[Nintinugga]], [[Irkalla]], [[Kur]], [[Namtar]], [[Nergal]], [[Bitu (god)|Bitu]], [[Nindukugga]], [[Ninlil]], [[Urshanabi]], [[Utnapishtim|Ziusudra]] |- |[[Syrian mythology]] |[[Reshep]] |- |[[Tamil mythology]] |Cur |- |[[Thracian mythology]] |[[Thracian Heros|Heros]] |- |[[Turkic mythology]] |[[Erlik]] |- |[[Vietnamese mythology]] |[[Quảng Cung]], [[Thập điện Diêm Vương]], [[Hắc Bạch vô thường]] (couple of messengers lead the souls of the dead to the Âm phủ), [[Đầu Trâu Mặt Ngựa]] (has the same task as Hắc Bạch vô thường), [[Mạnh Bà]] (the maker of the oblivion soup called ''cháo lú'' by the Vietnamese) |- |[[Wagawaga mythology]] |[[Tumudurere]] |- |[[Welsh mythology]] |[[Arawn]] |- |[[Yoruba mythology]] |[[Eshu|Esu]], [[Oya]] |- |[[Yurak mythology]] |[[Nga (god)|Nga]] |- |[[Zuni mythology]] |[[Uhepono]] |} == See also == {{portal|border=no|World}} * [[Afterlife]] *[[Yomi]] * [[Barzakh]] * [[Hell]], a similar infernal realm * [[Hollow Earth]] * [[Otherworld]] * [[Pure land]] * [[World Tree]], a tree that connects the heavens, the earth and the underworld in a number of spiritual belief systems == References == {{Reflist}} == External links == * {{Commons category-inline|Underworld}} {{Clear}} {{Hell}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Underworld| ]]