The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living.

• “Underworld”. The free dictionary. Retrieved 1 July 2010.

Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underworld.

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 myths are accounts of living people making journeys to the underworld, often for some heroic purpose. Other myths reinforce traditions that 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. Persons having social status were dressed and equipped in order to better navigate the underworld.

• Radcliffe G. Edmonds, III, Myths of the Underworld Journey: Plato, Aristophanes, and the ‘Orphic’ Gold Tablets (2004), p. 9.
• 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. 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. 257.
• 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:

Ethnicity, religion, or region	Name of underworld
Albanian mythology	Ferri
Aztec mythology	Mictlan
Mesopotamian religion	Irkalla
Buddhism	Naraka (also Niraya)
Celtic mythology	Annwn, Mag Mell, Dubnos
Chinese folk religion / Taoism	Míngjiè 冥界, Huángquán 黄泉, Dìyù 地狱
Christian mythology	Hell, Tártaro, Purgatory, Hades
Egyptian religion	Aaru, Duat, Neter-khertet, Amenti
Estonian mythology	Toonela
Fijian mythology	Burotu, Murimuria T. Williams, J. Calvert,  Fiji and the Fijians, Heylin, 1858.
Finnish mythology	Tuonela
Georgian mythology	Kveskneli
Germanic religion	Hel, Náströnd, Niflhel
Greek religion	Main article: Greek underworldElysium, Asphodel Meadows, Tártaros
Guanche mythology	Echeide, Guayota
Hinduism	Patala, 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	Jahannam, Sijjin
Jainism	Naraka, Adho Loka (the lower world)
Shinto	Yomi 黄泉, Ne-no-Kuni 根の国, Jigoku 地獄
Jewish mythology	Sheol, Abaddon, Tehom (in Kabbalah), Tophet, Tzoah Rotachat, Dudael
Korean mythology	Ji-Ok 지옥 地獄
Latvian mythology	Aizsaule
Lithuanian mythology	Anapilis
Malay mythology	Alam Ghaib (The unseen realm)
Indonesian mythology
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, Burotu, Murimuria, Nabagatai, Tuma
Oromo mythology	Ekera
Zoroastrianism	Duzakh
Philippine mythology	Kasanaan
Polynesian mythology	Avaiki, Bulotu, Iva, Lua-o-Milu, Nga- Atua, Pulotu, Rangi Tuarea,  Te Toi-o-nga-Ranga,  Uranga-o-Te-Ra
Pueblo mythology	Shipap
Roman mythology	Orcus, Inferi Di, Avernus
Romanian mythology	Tărâmul Celălalt
Slavic mythology	Nav, Podsvetie, Peklo, Vyraj
Sumerian mythology	Kur, Hubur
Turko-Mongol	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.

Origin	associated deity/spirits
Aboriginal mythology	Baiame (Kamilaroi), Eingana
Akkadian mythology	Allu, Anu, Anunnaku, Ereshkigal, Etemmu, Gallu, Humbaba,  Mamitu, Nergal, Utnapishtim
Albanian mythology	E Bukura e Dheut
Turko-Mongol	Erlik
Armenian mythology	Spandaramet
Aztec mythology	Mictlantecuhtli & Mictecacihuatl (advocations: Chalmecacihualt,  Chalmecatl)
Babylonian mythology	Erra, Nergal, Ninlil, Sursunabu, Ur-shanabi, Utnapishtim
Balinese mythology	Batara Kala, Setesuyara
Bon mythology	gNyan
Buddhism	King Yama
Canaanite mythology	Mot, Arsay
Celtic mythology	Aed, Arawn, Cwn Annwn, Donn, Gwyn ap Nudd,  Manannán mac Lir, Pwyll
Chinese folk religion	Yanluo Wang, Heibai Wuchang, Ox-Head and Horse-Face,  Meng Po, Zhong Kui
Christianity	Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub, Belial
Egyptian mythology	Aken, Aker (strictly only the gatekeeper), Am-heh, Amunet, Ammit, Andjety, Anubis, Apep, Apis,  Astennu,  Ha, Imiut (if the Imiut was ever considered a god), Isis, Mehen, Naunet, Nehebkau, Nephthys, Nun,  Nut, Osiris, Ptah, Seker, Thoth, Wepwawet
Elamite mythology	Jabru
Estonian mythology	Vanapagan
Etruscan mythology	Charun, Culsu, Februus, Mania, Mantus, Nethuns, Tuchulcha, Vanth
Fijian mythology	Degei
Finnish mythology	Kalma, Kipu-Tyttö, Kivutar, Lovitar, Surma, Tuonen akka,  Tuonetar, Tuoni, Vammatar
Greek mythology	Cerberus, Charon, Hades, Pluto, Keres, Persephone, Thánatos
Georgian mythology	sasuleti
Germanic religion	Garmr, Hel, Rán, Níðhögg
Haida mythology	Ta’xet, Tia
Hattian mythology, Hittite mythology	Lelwani
Hinduism	Yama
Hopi mythology	Maasaw
Hungarian mythology	Ördög
Ibo 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
Islamic mythology	Iblis (Satan), Maalik (Guardian)
Inuit mythology	Pana, Sedna
Japanese mythology	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
Kassite mythology	Dur
Khmer mythology	Preas Eyssaur
Latvian mythology	Veļi, Veļu māte, Zemes māte
Lithuanian mythology	Velnias, Velinas
Levantine mythology	Mot, Arsay
Lunda mythology	Kalunga
Mandaean mythology	Ruha, Ur, Krun, Gaf, Qin, Zahreil, Lilith, Niuli, Saṭani, Latabi, Nalai,  Gadulta, Anathan, Giu, Shdum,  Zartai-Zartanai, Hag, Mag
Maori mythology	Hina, Hine-nui-te-Po, Kewa, Mahiuki, Rohe, Whiro
Maya mythology	Ah Puch (Lords: Hun-Came & Vucub-Came)
Melanesian mythology	(includes Fijian mythology) Degei, Ratumaibulu, Samulayo
Narragansett mythology	Chepi
Navaho mythology	Estsanatlehi
Niquiran mythology	Mictanteot
Ugrian mythology	Heini-iki
Orokolo mythology	Kiavari
Persian mythology	Angra Mainyu, Azhi Dahaka, Div (mythology)
Philippine mythology	Magwayen/Maguayen, Sidapa
Phoenician mythology	Horon
Phrygian mythology	Men
Polynesian mythology	Hikuleo, Hina, Hine-nui-te-Po, Kanaloa, Kiho-tumu, Makea Tutara,  Mahuika, Mahu-ika, Marama, Mauri,  Merau, Milu, Miru, Rimu, Rohe,  Whiro
Prussian mythology	Picullus
Pueblo mythology	Iyatiku
Roma (Gypsy) mythology	Beng
Roman mythology	Cerberus, Dea Tacita, Dis Pater, Egestes, Fames, Inferi Di, Larenta, Letum, Libitina, Mors, Orcus, Pluto, Proserpina, Viduus
Romanian mythology	Diavolu, Satana, Necuratu, Scaraoschi
Russian mythology	Dyavol, Satanaya
Saami mythology	Yambe-akka
Salish mythology	Amotken
Siberian mythology	Chebeldei, Kul
Slavic mythology	Crnobog, Flins, Marzana, Nyia, Veles (god)
Sumerian mythology	Edimmu, Ekimmu, Endukugga, Enmesharra, Ereshkigal, Gidim,  Nintinugga, Irkalla, Kur, Namtar, Nergal, Bitu,  Nindukugga, Ninlil,  Urshanabi, Ziusudra
Syrian mythology	Reshep
Tamil mythology	Cur
Thracian mythology	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	Annwfn or Annwn
Yoruba mythology	Esu, Oya
Yurak mythology	Nga
Zuni mythology	Uhepono

See also

• World portal

• Afterlife
• Barzakh
• 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

1. “Underworld”. The free dictionary. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
2. Isabelle Loring Wallace, Jennie Hirsh, Contemporary Art and Classical Myth (2011), p. 295.
3. Radcliffe G. Edmonds, III, Myths of the Underworld Journey: Plato, Aristophanes, and the ‘Orphic’ Gold Tablets (2004), p. 9.
4. Jon Mills, Underworlds: Philosophies of the Unconscious from Psychoanalysis to Metaphysics (2014), p. 1.
5. Evans Lansing Smith, The Descent to the Underworld in Literature, Painting, and Film, 1895–1950 (2001), p. 257.
6. Evans Lansing Smith, The Descent to the Underworld in Literature, Painting, and Film, 1895–1950 (2001), p. 7.
7. T. Williams, J. Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, Heylin, 1858.

External links

•  Media related to Underworld at Wikimedia Commons

Underworlds

Category: 

• Underworld