Questions tagged [underworld]
For questions on the mythical realm of the dead, typically far underground, where the deceased go after death.
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Can gods swear on the Styx
In ancient Greece, humans used to swear on the Styx to keep promises. My 8yo had an interesting question today: "Can gods swear on the Styx as well ? They won't ever have to cross it anyway ...
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Do any Mediterranean mythologies depict souls escaping from the Underworld without the help of a living rescuer?
Persephone was rescued from the Underworld (for a little while) by Hermes, who brought her back to Demeter.
Eurydice was (almost) rescued from the Underworld by Orpheus.
Semele was rescued from the ...
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Was the Grim Reaper originally depicted with a scythe or a sickle?
Was the Grim Reaper originally depicted with a scythe or a sickle? I have seen both versions of the Angel of Death's weapon and was wondering which one is considered the older, more original version.
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What places were actually in the underworld?
I've recently become interested in Greek mythology and I thought what better place to start than a good 'ol family tree. Whilst researching Tartarus I came across, seemingly, two areas of thought. One ...
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Who came first, Egyptian pharoah Horus-Aha 3100bc, or, Horus the Deity?
Horus-Aha
Hor-Aha (or Aha or Horus Aha) is considered the second pharaoh of the First Dynasty of Egypt by some Egyptologists, others consider him the first one and corresponding to Menes. He lived ...
user7122
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Why was the Aztec god Xolotl associated with Venus?
I was reading about the Aztec god Xolotl and how he was associated with fire, lightning, and death. He was also, apparently, associated with Venus. If this is true, is there any particular reason why ...
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After Triptolemus being added to Hades' jury, is Minos the most important judge?
Minos was the judge of the third and final vote, when the jury was composed of just Rhadamanthys,
Minos and Aeacus . After the fourth judge was added, the majority in the judgement was not ...
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Was Plutus the son of Pluto and Proserpina?
There are so many different answers to the "Who were Hades/Pluto and Persephone/Prosperina children?" question that I'm not sure if they even had children together at all anymore.
One person ...
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Satan and Angra Mainyu
Many people say that Satan(Lucifer's Devil side) completely originated from Ahriman. I don't know much about the Avesta of Zoroaster but is that true?
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Do all (or most) religions believe in the existence of an afterlife?
I'm talking about both modern and ancient religions that we know of.
Christianity -> Heaven, Hell
Greco Roman -> Hades
Egyptian -> Anubis, Osiris
among many others. Are there any exceptions to this ...
user5459
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Who was the first Satan like deity/creature/person in mythology?
There are satan/devil representations in other faiths/myths.
But who was the first to have a role and background similar to Satan?
Since religions sometimes take over traits of the old ones there ...
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Drinking water from the River Lethe
They were all required to drink a measure of the water, and those who were not saved by their good sense, drank more than the measure, and each one as he drank forgot all things.
Found here in ...
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What is the 'White Rock' in Greek mythology?
I just found this term, White Rock, or Leucas, while reading about the Underworld here.
As men and women die, Hermes leads their souls to the Underworld, past the streams of Oceanus, past the White ...
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Was there a hell or place of suffering after death in Norse mythology?
Was there a hell or place of suffering after death in Norse mythology. If so, was it eternal? What caused a person to go there?
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What kind of dog breed would Cerberus be?
There are countless depictions of Cerberus with various number of heads or additional parts such as snake heads or tails. Some even say that Cerberus did not refer to a dog or hound at all, but rather ...
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