DEATH
What happens when I die?
Is there life after death?
Is there life after death?
The Underworld/ErEbos/Hades
After arriving in the underworld the souls were sorted according to the kind of life they had led. Hades had appointed three spirits of mortal kings whom were demigod sons of Zeus, to pass judgement on the life a person had lived. The appointed judges were, Minos, Aiakos and Rhadamanthys. It was impossible to influence the judges because they were under Hades’ control. The souls that came before them were stripped of everything but their essence and the judges were able to see the good and bad deeds of the soul.
Depending on their lives the Spirits were sorted into three groups.
-Those who had led a terrible life or committed crimes against the gods were sent to Tartarus, a great pit beneath the earth, which was eternal torment. Another version states that those who had led terrible lives were sent to the Fields of Punishment.
-Those who had lived an average life were sent to the Fields of Asphodel. Most people fell into this category.
-Those who had lived a very good life were sent to the Elysium. If you were admitted to the Elysium, you had the opportunity to drink from the river Lethe-the river of forgetfulness-and be reborn into the world. It was said that those who had lived three virtuous lives in a row were sent to the Isles of the Blest, the final dwelling place for Hero’s.
-Those who had led a terrible life or committed crimes against the gods were sent to Tartarus, a great pit beneath the earth, which was eternal torment. Another version states that those who had led terrible lives were sent to the Fields of Punishment.
-Those who had lived an average life were sent to the Fields of Asphodel. Most people fell into this category.
-Those who had lived a very good life were sent to the Elysium. If you were admitted to the Elysium, you had the opportunity to drink from the river Lethe-the river of forgetfulness-and be reborn into the world. It was said that those who had lived three virtuous lives in a row were sent to the Isles of the Blest, the final dwelling place for Hero’s.
Geographically, there were five rivers in the Underworld.
Acheron- The river of pain, it is said that ghosts are drawn to this river and fill it with their pain and suffering. The Acheron splits into two other rivers the Cxytus and the Styx.
Cxytus-The river of wailing, it is said that the river contains the tears of the dammed.
Styx-River of Hatred, souls needed to cross this river in order to get to the underworld, gods swear their oaths by this river.
Lethe-The river of forgetfulness, had the ability to wipe memories, spirits before reincarnation were required to drink from it so they wouldn't remember their old life.
Phylegethon-The river of fire, it is said that this river won’t kill you, only cause immense pain to the point, where a person wishes they were dead. In some legends it states that if a person is very repentant it will wash away sins.
Acheron- The river of pain, it is said that ghosts are drawn to this river and fill it with their pain and suffering. The Acheron splits into two other rivers the Cxytus and the Styx.
Cxytus-The river of wailing, it is said that the river contains the tears of the dammed.
Styx-River of Hatred, souls needed to cross this river in order to get to the underworld, gods swear their oaths by this river.
Lethe-The river of forgetfulness, had the ability to wipe memories, spirits before reincarnation were required to drink from it so they wouldn't remember their old life.
Phylegethon-The river of fire, it is said that this river won’t kill you, only cause immense pain to the point, where a person wishes they were dead. In some legends it states that if a person is very repentant it will wash away sins.