Underworld


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. 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". 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 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. People with high social status were dressed and equipped in order to better navigate the underworld.
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".

By religion

This list includes underworlds in various religious traditions, with links to corresponding articles:
Ethnicity, religion, or regionName of underworld
Albanian mythologyFerri
Aztec mythologyMictlan
Mesopotamian religionIrkalla
Baduy & Sundanese mythologyBuana Larang
BuddhismNaraka
Celtic mythologyAnnwn, Mag Mell, Dubnos
Chinese folk religion / TaoismMíngjiè 冥界, Huángquán 黄泉, Diyu 地狱
Christian mythologyHell, Tartarus, Purgatory, Hades
Egyptian religionAaru, Duat, Neter-khertet, Amenti
Estonian mythologyToonela
Fijian mythologyBurotu, Murimuria
Finnish mythologyTuonela
Georgian mythologyKveskneli
Germanic religionHel, Náströnd, Niflhel
Greek religion Elysium, Asphodel Meadows, Tartarus
Guanche mythology
Echeide, Guayota
HinduismPatala, Naraka or Yamaloka
Hittite mythologyDankuš daganzipaš/Dankuš tekan
Hopi mythologyMaski
Hungarian mythologyAlvilág
Inca mythologyUku Pacha
Inuit mythologyAdlivun
Islamic mythologyJahannam, Sijjin
JainismNaraka, Adho Loka
ShintoYomi 黄泉, Ne-no-Kuni 根の国, Jigoku 地獄
Jewish mythologySheol, Abaddon, Tehom, Tophet, Tzoah Rotachat, Dudael
Korean mythology
Latvian mythologyAizsaule
Lithuanian mythologyAnapilis mountain
Malay mythologyAlam Ghaib
Indonesian mythologyAlam Ghaib
MandaeismWorld of Darkness (alma d-hšuka)
Māori mythologyHawaiki, Rarohenga, Rangi Tuarea, Te Toi-o-nga-Ranga, Uranga-o-te-rā
Mapuche mythologyPellumawida, Degin, Wenuleufu, Ngullchenmaiwe
Maya mythologyXibalba or Metnal
Melanesian mythology Bulu, Burotu, Murimuria, Nabagatai, Tuma
Oromo mythologyEkera
ZoroastrianismDuzakh
Philippine mythologyKasanaan
Polynesian mythologyAvaiki, Bulotu, Iva, Lua-o-Milu, Nga- Atua, Pulotu, Rangi Tuarea, Te Toi-o-nga-Ranga, Uranga-o-Te-Ra
Pueblo mythologyShipap
Roman mythologyOrcus, Inferi Di, Avernus
Romanian mythologyTărâmul Celălalt
Slavic mythologyNav, Vyraj
Sumerian mythologyKur, Hubur
Turko-MongolTamağ
Vietnamese mythologyÂm phủ 陰府, Địa ngục 地獄
Wagawaga mythologyHiyoyoa

Underworld figures

This list includes rulers or guardians of the underworld in various religious traditions, with links to corresponding articles.
Originassociated deity/spirits
Aboriginal mythologyBaiame, Eingana
Akkadian mythologyAllu, Anu, Anunnaku, Ereshkigal, Etemmu, Gallu, Humbaba, Mamitu, Nergal, Utnapishtim
Albanian mythologyE Bukura e Dheut
Turko-MongolErlik
Armenian mythologySpandaramet
Aztec mythologyMictlantecuhtli & Mictecacihuatl
Babylonian mythologyErra, Nergal, Ninlil, Sursunabu, Ur-shanabi, Utnapishtim
Balinese mythologyBatara Kala, Setesuyara
Bon mythologygNyan
BuddhismKing Yama
Canaanite mythologyMot, Arsay
Celtic mythologyAed, Arawn, Cwn Annwn, Donn, Gwyn ap Nudd, Manannán mac Lir, Pwyll, Nemain, The Morrigan, Taranis.
Chinese folk religionYanluo Wang, Heibai Wuchang, Ox-Head and Horse-Face, Meng Po, Zhong Kui
ChristianitySatan, Lucifer, Beelzebub, Belial
Egyptian mythologyAken, Aker, Am-heh, Amunet, Ammit, Andjety, Anubis, Apep, Apis, Astennu, Ha, Imiut, Isis, Mehen, Naunet, Nehebkau, Nephthys, Nun, Nut, Osiris, Ptah, Seker, Thoth, Wepwawet
Elamite mythologyJabru
Estonian mythologyVanapagan
Etruscan mythologyCharun, Culsu, Februus, Mania, Mantus, Nethuns, Tuchulcha, Vanth
Fijian mythologyDegei
Finnish mythologyKalma, Kipu-Tyttö, Kivutar, Lovitar, Surma, Tuonen akka, Tuonetar, Tuoni, Vammatar
Greek mythologyCerberus, Charon, Hades, Pluto, Keres, Persephone, Thánatos, Eris, Hermes, Hera
Georgian mythologysasuleti
Germanic religionGarmr, Hel, Rán, Níðhögg
Haida mythologyTa'xet, Tia
Hattian mythology, Hittite mythologyLelwani
HinduismYama
Hopi mythologyMaasaw
Hungarian mythologyÖrdög
Ibo mythologyAla
Incan mythologySupay, Vichama
Indonesian mythology Batara Kala guardian for sinners souls' underworld, Dewi Sri guardess for the righteous souls' underworld
IslamIblis, Shayatin, Maalik
Inuit mythologyPana, Sedna
Japanese mythologyIzanami-no-Mikoto, Jikininki, Shikome, Shiryō, Susanoo-no-Mikoto
JudaismSatan, Malach HaMavet , Malachei Habala, Dumah
Kassite mythologyDur
Khmer mythologyPreas Eyssaur
Latvian mythologyVeļi, Veļu māte, Zemes māte
Lithuanian mythologyVelnias, Velinas
Levantine mythologyMot, Arsay
Lunda mythologyKalunga
Mandaean mythologyRuha, Ur, Krun, Gaf, Qin, Zahreil, Lilith, Niuli, Saṭani, Latabi, Nalai, Gadulta, Anathan, Giu, Shdum, Zartai-Zartanai, Hag, Mag
Māori mythologyHina, Hine-nui-te-pō, Kewa, Mahiuki, Rohe, Whiro
Maya mythologyAh Puch
Melanesian mythology Degei, Ratumaibulu, Samulayo
Narragansett mythologyChepi
Navaho mythologyEstsanatlehi
Niquiran mythologyMictanteot
Ob-Ugrian mythologyHeini-iki
Orokolo mythologyKiavari
Persian mythologyAngra Mainyu, Azhi Dahaka, Div (mythology)
Philippine mythologyMagwayen, Sidapa
Phoenician mythologyHoron
Phrygian mythologyMen
Polynesian mythologyHikuleo, Hina, Hine-nui-te-Po, Kanaloa, Kiho-tumu, Makea Tutara, Mahuika, Mahu-ika, Marama, Mauri, Merau, Milu, Miru, Rimu, Rohe, Whiro
Prussian mythologyPicullus
Pueblo mythologyIyatiku
Roma (Gypsy) mythologyBeng
Roman mythologyCerberus, Dea Tacita, Dis Pater, Egestes, Fames, Inferi Di, Larenta, Letum, Libitina, Mors, Orcus, Pluto, Proserpina, Viduus
Romanian mythologyDiavolu, Satana, Necuratu, Scaraoschi
Russian mythologyDyavol, Satanaya
Saami mythologyYambe-akka
Salish mythologyAmotken
Siberian mythologyChebeldei, Kul
Slavic mythologyCrnobog, Flins, Marzana, Nyia, Veles (god)
Sumerian mythologyEdimmu, Ekimmu, Endukugga, Enmesharra, Ereshkigal, Gidim, Nintinugga, Irkalla, Kur, Namtar, Nergal, Bitu, Nindukugga, Ninlil, Urshanabi, Ziusudra
Syrian mythologyReshep
Tamil mythologyCur
Thracian mythologyHeros
Turkic mythologyErlik
Vietnamese mythologyQuảng Cung, Thập điện Diêm Vương, Hắc Bạch vô thường, Đầu Trâu Mặt Ngựa, Mạnh Bà
Wagawaga mythologyTumudurere
Welsh mythologyArawn
Yoruba mythologyEsu, Oya
Yurak mythologyNga
Zuni mythologyUhepono