Editing Underworld

{{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.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.thefreedictionary.com/underworld |title=Underworld |work=The free dictionary |access-date=1 July 2010 }}</ref> [[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".<ref>Isabelle Loring Wallace, Jennie Hirsh, ''Contemporary Art and Classical Myth'' (2011), p. 295.</ref> 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.<ref>Radcliffe G. Edmonds, III, ''Myths of the Underworld Journey: Plato, Aristophanes, and the 'Orphic' Gold Tablets'' (2004), p. 9.</ref> People with high social status were dressed and equipped in order to better navigate the underworld.<ref>Jon Mills, ''Underworlds: Philosophies of the Unconscious from Psychoanalysis to Metaphysics'' (2014), p. 1.</ref>

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.<ref>Evans Lansing Smith, ''The Descent to the Underworld in Literature, Painting, and Film, 1895–1950'' (2001), p. 257.</ref> 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".<ref>Evans Lansing Smith, ''The Descent to the Underworld in Literature, Painting, and Film, 1895–1950'' (2001), p. 7.</ref>

== 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]]
|Míngjiè [[:zh:陰間|冥界]], Huángquán [[:zh:黃泉|黄泉]], Dìyù [[:zh:地獄 (中華文化)|地狱]]
|-
|[[Christian mythology]]
| [[Hell in Christianity|Hell]], [[Tartarus#New Testament|Tártaro]], [[Purgatory]], [[Christian views on Hades|Hades]]
|-
|[[Ancient Egyptian religion|Egyptian religion]]
|[[Aaru]], [[Duat]], Neter-khertet, [[Amenti]]
|-
|[[Estonian mythology]]
|[[Tuonela|Toonela]]
|-
|[[Fijian mythology]]
|[[Burotu]], [[Murimuria]]<ref>T. Williams, J. Calvert, ''Fiji and the Fijians'', Heylin, 1858.</ref>
|-
|[[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]]
|[[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]], [[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]], [[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]], [[Akka (Spirit)|Tuonen akka]], [[Tuonetar]], [[Tuoni]], [[Vammatar]]
|-
|[[Greek mythology]]
|[[Cerberus]], [[Charon]], [[Hades]], [[Pluto (mythology)|Pluto]], [[Keres]], [[Persephone]], [[Thanatos|Thánatos]], [[Eris (mythology)|Eris]], [[Hermes]], [[Hera]]
|-
|[[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]]
|-
|[[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]]
|-
|[[Ob-Ugrian mythology]]
|[[Heini-iki]]
|-
|[[Orokolo mythology]]
|[[Kiavari]]
|-
|[[Persian mythology]]
|[[Angra Mainyu]], [[Zahhak|Azhi Dahaka]], [[Div (mythology)]]
|-
|[[Philippine mythology]]
|[[Anito|Magwayen/Maguayen]], 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]]
|[[Akka (Spirit)|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
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== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Underworld}}

{{Clear}}
{{Hell}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Underworld| ]]