In Greek mythology, the cosmos consists of three realms; the heavens, the earth, and the underworld.
The heavens were held aloft by the four great pillars, each ruled by a primordial giant known as a Titan. The east pillar was home to Hyperion, who presided over the heavenly light. The north pillar was governed by Koios, who was a master oracle. Krios resided over the south pillar, which was associated with the coming of spring, and finally there was Iapetus, the creator of mortals, who lived in the pillar to the west.
Central to these four great pillars sat Mount Olympus, home of the Olympians. These twelve gods dwelt in fabulous palaces of marble and gold, and included Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Hestia, Demeter, Hermes, Aphrodite, Ares and Hephaestus. The palace of Zeus sported a central hall which served as both a council chamber and feast-hall for the gods.
The palace provided an expansive view of the world below, known as earth. This realm was the physical embodiment of Gaia (an earth goddess). The ancient Greeks conceived earth as a flat disk, encircled by a great river known as Oceanus. This vast land was inhabited by fey like beings called nymphs and Satyrs, who presided over natural phenomena, such as springs, trees, meadows, and beaches. They were responsible for the care of the plants and animals and were closely associated with nature gods such as Hermes, Dionysus, Artemis, and Demeter.
The most notable of these fey beings was Pan, the god of shepherds and hunters. He was often depicted as a snub faced man with horns, goats legs, a thick beard, and pointed ears. There were no temples attributed to Pan, but he was worshipped in natural settings such as caves. It was believed that he often chased nymphs in order to seduce them, but he was always turned down due to his ugly appearance.
Far to the western fingers of Earth was an orchard known as the Garden of the Hesperides. It is here that Hera’s nymphs tended to a single tree that produced golden apples. These apples granted immortality to anyone who ate theme. Hera placed a hundred-headed dragon in the garden called Ladon, to protect her tree from any thieves who tried to steal the divine fruit in a bid for immortality.
Beyond the garden lay the great sea of Oceanus, an ocean-stream that encircled the habitable world. Like Gaia, Oceanus was the physical embodiment of a primordial Titan. Oceanus’ consort was his sister Tethys, and from their union came the Oceanids (sea nymphs), and all the rivers of the world, including fountains and lakes.
Although Oceanus was the embodiment of the ocean, it was Poseidon, god of the sea, who ruled over its waters. He was the protector of seafarers and developing colonies. In his benign aspect, Poseidon could be found creating new islands and calming the ocean waters. However, when he was offended or ignored, he struck the ground with his trident and caused earthquakes, drownings and shipwrecks.
The treacherous sea was also home to two formidable beasts, the Scylla, a sea dragon who lived on one side of a narrow channel of water, and her counterpart Charybdis (a ravenous whirlpool that devoured ships). The two sides of the strait were within an arrow’s range of each other, so close that sailors attempting to avoid Charybdis would pass dangerously close to Scylla and vice versa.
Below Oceanus lay the underworld (ruled by the god Hades). This gloomy realm was home to chthonic beings and the souls of the departed. It was governed by Hades, who resided in Erebus, the land of shadows. He was the most feared of the gods, and described as ‘pitiless’, and ‘loathsome’. He was often found in his underworld palace, sitting on an ebony throne alongside his wife, Persephone.
The underworld was a vast realm, full of many geographical features. The best way to explore this netherworld is by following the fate of three individuals; one who lived a wicked life, one who led an ordinary existence, and one who achieved heroic deeds during their lifetime.
Upon their deaths, each soul meets with Hermes, (messenger of the gods), who leads them to the entrance of the underworld. There they meet with Charon, a boatman who ferries the souls of the dead through a network of rivers that run throughout Zoella Hades. Each soul must pay him with a gold coin to gain passage, or else they are left trapped between worlds.
They are then ferried down the river Styx, which forms the boundary between Earth and the Underworld. During the boat ride, the souls enter through the gates of the underworld, where they are met by Cerberus, a three-headed dog who guards the way in and the way out. He allows all dead souls to enter, but none to leave.
Eventually they arrive at the Stygian Marsh, a swamp which is surrounded by the five rivers of the underworld. It is here, at the crossroads, they appear before a panel of three judges, Rhadamanthus, Minos, and Aeacus, who pass sentence on the three spirits. based on how well or ill they lived their lives.
The virtuous soul is sent far to the west to an island known as the Elysian Fields, which is reserved for heroic mortals and demi-gods. Within this bountiful realm, the virtuous souls can indulge in musical pursuits, athletic games and feast on sumptuous foods.
The ordinary soul is told to drink from the river Lethe (situated in Erebus), which makes them forget their earthly lives. They are then sent to the Asphodel meadows, a foggy realm where the sun never shines. These souls are ferried by Charon across the river Acheron (river of woe), to spend an indeterminate time in this fertile realm, living off flowers for sustenance.
The meadows are dark and gloomy, and all its occupants are mere shadow of their former selves, described as inactive, slow witted and joyless. According to the poet Virgil, these souls will one day be reincarnated upon Earth, and offered another opportunity to live a virtuous life, thus earning a place in Elysium.
Finally, the wicked soul is sent to Tartarus, a deep abyss which is used as a dungeon for giants, Titans and monsters. They are escorted by the Furies, three creatures of divine retribution, who march the wretched souls to a life of torture and punishment.
To ensure these villains never escaped, two powerful monsters were tasked with guarding the exit. The first was Campe, a colossal being with a woman’s head, a dragon’s body and a scorpions tail. She was eventually killed by Zeus when he freed the Cyclopes, and replaced by the Hecatonchires, hundred handed giants, who were stronger than the Titans themselves.
According to an ancient mystical tradition, known as Orphism, if you drank from the river of memory, (Mnemosyne), you would retain all your worldly memories, thus ending the transmigration of your soul. It is suggested they could then migrate to Elysium, where they would ‘rule among the other heroes.’
REFERENCES
www.greekmythology.com
http://www.theoi.com/
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