MR8

• Neither the Greeks nor the Romans believed in a heaven or hell. All the dead ended up in the same place, the underworld
• Underworld


  The realm of Hades, where the Olympian gods were not allowed to enter
• Exceptions who could travel to the underworld


  • Hermes
  • Dionysus
• Trojan hero who visited the underworld

  • Aeneas
• Myths surrounding the underworld were popular motifs on funerary monuments, as they gave the deceased hope that they too could successfully enter the underworld and gain favour from its King or Queen
• General beliefs about the underworld


  • After death you went to Hades where a final decision was made
  • Entry to the Underworld was vital for both the deceased and their family, even though it held few attractions
  • You were not forced to get to the Underworld – access was denied to those who had committed crimes against the state, those who had committed suicide and those who had committed murder
  • There were some variations in what the Underworld was like – different authors and different places portrayed the Underworld as slightly different
• Key figures of the underworld


  • Hades
  • Persephone
  • Hermes
  • Charon
  • Minos
  • Aeachus
  • Rhadymanthus
• Asphodel Fields


  Dull misty lands in which souls appear to have wandered aimlessly. The majority of people would end up here as it seems to have been for people who were neither exceptionally good nor exceptionally bad. These shades did not have much of their personalities left, and their continuing existence was not awful but had no hope for anything better.
• Elysian Fields


  Originally only Demigods and heroes (such as Achilles) would go here instead of dying. Later the good and those who were deemed to have suffered unfairly during their life were also allowed to go to the Elysian Fields. It was a place of warmth and light.
• Tartarus


  A place of punishment and torture usually reserved for those who had grievously upset the gods – condemned to punishment for eternity. Example: Sisyphus.
• The Homeric Hymn to Demeter provides an insight into what the Greeks thought the relationship between gods and man was like
• Protagonists


  • Demeter
  • Persephone
  • Hades
• The Homeric Hymn to Demeter describes Persephone being snatched away by Hades, and Demeter's subsequent search for her
• Demeter's grief causes a famine that threatens to destroy humanity, until Zeus intervenes and arranges for Persephone's return from the underworld
• Demeter's heart was not persuaded


  She firmly refused these pleas
• Zeus sent the slayer of Argus


  To persuade Hades to lead Persephone out of the murky darkness
• Hades smiled grimly


  He did not disobey the command of Zeus
• Persephone


  Skilful, rejoiced, swiftly leaping up in delight
• Hades gave Persephone one seed of a honey-sweet pomegranate to eat


  For fear that she would stay for all her days elsewhere
• Demeter suspected a trick

  She restrained her affection
• Persephone: 'When luck-bringing Hermes came to me bidding me to come back from Erebus, so that you would see me with your eyes, and stop your dreaded rage and anger against the immortals, immediately I leaped up joyfully: but he secretly fed me the seed of a pomegranate, a honey-sweet food, and forced me to eat, though I was unwilling.'
• They spent the whole day with their souls united, tenderly embracing one another often which warmed heart and soul; ending the pain of their souls. They gave and received joy to each other.
• Zeus promised to give Demeter whatever honours she chose


  Demeter would spend two thirds of the year with her daughter and the other immortals
• Homeric Hymns


  Poems dedicated to the gods, including Heracles, sharing a similar style to the epics of Homer
• Key individuals


  • Demeter
  • Persephone
  • Hades
  • Zeus
  • Daughters of Oceanus
  • Helios
  • Hecate
  • Hermes
• Themes


  • Relationship between the gods
  • Relationship between gods and men
• When Demeter retired to her temple, she made the grimmest and most brutal year for men on the all-nourishing earth. No ground sent up seeds, for Lady Demeter kept them hidden.
• By means of painful famine, Demeter would have destroyed the whole mortal race and deprived the glorious dwellers of Olympus the honour of gifts and sacrifices, if Zeus had not noticed and pondered upon this in his heart.
• From the root of the narcissus flower grew a hundred blooms, and it smelled most sweetly, so that all wide heaven above and the whole earth and the salty sea laughed for joy.
• Zeus may have sought to improve his relationship with the underworld and Olympia by arranging Persephone's marriage to Hades.
• The head of the household, a male, was responsible for arranging the marriages of his children
• The purposes of such marriages would be to secure family links
• Zeus may have sought to improve his relationship with the underworld and Olympia by arranging Persephone's marriage
• Abduction of Persephone


  1. Hades emerged from the earth, took hold of her and took her to the underworld in his chariot

  2. Persephone cried out shrilly calling upon her father Zeus
• Demeter searches for Persephone


  1. Tore off her veil, hurled her dark cloak down, and sped off searching like a bird of prey over land and sea

  2. Hecate approached Demeter with news of Persephone's abduction

  3. Helios told Demeter that Zeus had offered Persephone to Hades
• Demeter's actions


  She made the grimmest and most brutal year for men on the earth, no ground sent up seeds, many oxen dragged the ploughs in vain, much white barley fell upon the ground to no purpose
• Zeus' appeal to Hades


  1. Sent Hermes to the underworld to appeal to Hades to return Persephone, as Demeter would not submit unless Persephone was returned

  2. Hades submitted to Zeus' request and sent Persephone back to Demeter with Hermes
• Pomegranate seed


  If Persephone ate it, she would be bound to stay in the underworld for a set period of time
• This was the Greek explanation for the seasons - during winter Persephone was with Hades, and Demeter was in mourning, sending no seed or harvest
• In Homer's Odyssey, Odysseus descends to the underworld to speak with the prophet Teiresias