The Underworld of Greek Mythology
Conceptualized in the Percy Jackson books
By now you're probably wondering, why do I keep picking superficial or non-existent subjects for my Blog. The answer is quite simple, I prefer the world of dreams rather than reality. Needless to say the subject I've chosen this time is neither dream-worthy and desirable..
So why this place? I mean can't I just choose something better like Heaven, Japan, America, Greece, Hong Kong, or some other place that does not invoke fear? It is simple really, the Underworld is interesting. In fact everything I've from Greek mythology is interesting but If i try to cram all of those wonderful/dreadful concepts into one blog. It would take me several years of studying and I still wont be finished.
Back to the matter at hand, I choose the Underworld simply because it's one of the most diverse part of Greek Mythology. As a form of media the Underworld is widely used in Homer's two epic, the Iliad and the Odyssey. It is almost always said with utter respect by the characters, since well let's delve into that.
The Underworld has many great interesting places but I'm going to cut it short and describe two places that I really like. One is the riven Styx, the river of hatred. In the Percy Jackson books, Styx is describe as "the river of unfulfilled dreams". Styx is also the most known river because of the legend of Achilles, the warrior who was dipped into the river making him invincible except for a small spot on his heels.
The River Styx symbolizes all the lost hopes of mankind as such that Charon on some point in the PoJ books stated "For thousands of years, you humans have been throwing in everything as you come across—hopes, dreams, wishes that never came true." Also it has been said in the book Mythology by Edith Hamilton, It is a river that connects all the rivers of the underworld, probably implying that the hopes of men are what connects them to misery. Since the River Styx is connected to the river of pain (Acheron), oblivion (Lethe), fire (Phlegethon) and wailing (Cocytus). Styx is also the river of promise, which the gods of Olympus swear upon an unbreakable oath. Get the picture why I like it?
The next one is Tartarus. The primordial god that was born side by side Gaea, mother earth. Tartarus in all forms of media that I can found (see references) has been a place of no return. In the PoJ books this is the place where monsters reform and evil itself is personified. Its is also described as a never ending chasm that contorts to the mortals mind of 'whats ominous and evil'. Tartarus is a Protogenoi, meaning they are beings that are the personifications of the universe. Tartarus is the dark side of mother earth where all ugly, evil, and dark beings who don't deserve the 'light' torture of the Fields of Punishment are thrown to. It contains all the evil gods that have existed before the rule of the Olympians and some truly evil gods that they have banished.
Underworld also contains the mortal's reprieve, the Fields of Ashpodel, Elysium, and the Isle of the Blest. Which I will not talk about since they do not interest me as much as Cerberus and the Fields of Punishment.
Cerberus for the the tidbits is that cute three headed behemoth of a dog guarding the entrance to Hades castle... well domain. He does not let the souls inside Ashpodel to get out and makes sure the living goes in ... well dead. Describe by Dante Aligheiri as a loud, huge, and terrifying (with snakes rising from his neck) creature. Some accounts also describer cerberus as a large worm-like monster writhing in the canto of gluttony.
This are all the probable reasons (and more if ever needed be) why I choose the Underworld as my second blog subject.
To truly wrap this up, what I truly get from Underworld is that all things under the earth are not evil, the Underworld is not Hell. Hell is akin to Tartarus while Underworld exists as a neutral camp although it is dark and brooding. It is also for the heroes who served the world that did not become gods. It also contains all the riches of the world, the peace of the dead and the hopes of damned, It is good on its own way. Basically in short the Underworld is more of a place of awe than a place to condemn... fearing it is probably the reason why Hades always plays the villain in Greek Mythology.
"Choose wisely, the Underworld or the world under the laws of men?"
-anonymous
Hamilton, E. (1999). Mythology: Timeless tales of gods and heroes (Warner Books ed.). New York, NY: Warner Books.
Riordan, R. (2006). Percy Jackson and the lightning thief. London: Puffin.
McCarty, N. (2000). The Iliad. New York: Kingfisher.
Lombardo, S. (2009). Inferno. Indianapolis: Hackett Pub.
http://www.citationmachine.net/apa/cite-a-book/create
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iliad
http://camphalfblood.wikia.com/wiki/River_Styx
http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Places/Untitled/untitled.html
http://camphalfblood.wikia.com/wiki/Protogenoi
Very insightful entry, Jose. Keep it up! - Ms Maffy
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