Almost Every Culture or Religion in the World Describes the Existence of Some Sort of Underworld or...

7/29/2019 Almost Every Culture or Religion in the World Describes the Existence of Some Sort of Underworld or Hell

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Almost every culture or religion in the world describes the existence of some sort of underworld

or hell. These descriptions are often unusual in the way sinners are dealt with and even how

sinning is defined. While each is unique in its own way, there are elements that are strikinglycommon across many cultures and religions.

10Niflheim

Niflheim is a rather bizarre form of hell found in Norse and Germanic cultures. Rather than

being a fiery pit, its afreezing landscape, ruled by Hel and located next to the Shore of Corpses,

where Nidhogg resides. Nidhogg is, of course, a giant snake that feeds on the dead.

Of the nine worlds in Norse mythology, Niflheim is said to be the deepest and darkest of them

all, and the myths claim that the Earth was created when the icy Niflheim and fiery world ofMuspelheim combined. The realm is home to the wicked and also serves as an anchor for the

Yggdrasillthe World Tree that holds up the universe. Hel became the mistress of the dead after

being banished from Asgard, as she wasthe daughter of Loki. The souls brought to Niflheim by

Hels messenger Hermodr are keptin constant pain.

9Tuonela
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/n/niflheim.htmlhttp://www.pantheon.org/articles/n/niflheim.htmlhttp://www.pantheon.org/articles/n/niflheim.htmlhttp://www.whiterosesgarden.com/Nature_of_Evil/Underworld/UNDR_hell/UNDR-H_west-north_europe/UNDR_niflheim_norse.htmhttp://www.whiterosesgarden.com/Nature_of_Evil/Underworld/UNDR_hell/UNDR-H_west-north_europe/UNDR_niflheim_norse.htmhttp://www.whiterosesgarden.com/Nature_of_Evil/Underworld/UNDR_hell/UNDR-H_west-north_europe/UNDR_niflheim_norse.htmhttps://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Niflheimhttps://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Niflheimhttps://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Niflheimhttps://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Niflheimhttp://www.whiterosesgarden.com/Nature_of_Evil/Underworld/UNDR_hell/UNDR-H_west-north_europe/UNDR_niflheim_norse.htmhttp://www.pantheon.org/articles/n/niflheim.html


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The pre-Christian Finnish believed that the souls of the dead arrived on the shores ofthe river

Tuoni, and were brought into Tuonela by the maid of Death, Tytti. Unlike most of the other

underworlds on this list, Tuonela was pretty much a gloomier continuation of life on Earth.

Those that found themselves going to Tuonela had to bring items to survive with. It even allowedvisitors who wished to come and see their deceased relatives, though the journey was dangerous

and often deadly. Particularly dangerous was the river Tuoni itself, which wasfilled with

poisonous snakes. No real punishments were carried out in Tuonela, unless you considereternally living a life just as mundane as reality a punishment.

8The House of Lies (Zoroastrianism)
http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Places/District/1014599http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Places/District/1014599http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Places/District/1014599http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Places/District/1014599http://books.google.com/books?id=NwCDdSmFJPEC&pg=PA206&lpg=PA206&dq=tuonela+finnish+description&source=bl&ots=kCx4-Xssqs&sig=uk5tax_A7Muf_Tmghkz9rvqoe-o&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4qMKUrTsD-jF2AXEuYHwCQ&ved=0CEsQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=tuonela%20finnish%20description&f=falsehttp://books.google.com/books?id=NwCDdSmFJPEC&pg=PA206&lpg=PA206&dq=tuonela+finnish+description&source=bl&ots=kCx4-Xssqs&sig=uk5tax_A7Muf_Tmghkz9rvqoe-o&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4qMKUrTsD-jF2AXEuYHwCQ&ved=0CEsQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=tuonela%20finnish%20description&f=falsehttp://books.google.com/books?id=NwCDdSmFJPEC&pg=PA206&lpg=PA206&dq=tuonela+finnish+description&source=bl&ots=kCx4-Xssqs&sig=uk5tax_A7Muf_Tmghkz9rvqoe-o&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4qMKUrTsD-jF2AXEuYHwCQ&ved=0CEsQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=tuonela%20finnish%20description&f=falsehttp://books.google.com/books?id=NwCDdSmFJPEC&pg=PA206&lpg=PA206&dq=tuonela+finnish+description&source=bl&ots=kCx4-Xssqs&sig=uk5tax_A7Muf_Tmghkz9rvqoe-o&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4qMKUrTsD-jF2AXEuYHwCQ&ved=0CEsQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=tuonela%20finnish%20description&f=falsehttp://books.google.com/books?id=NwCDdSmFJPEC&pg=PA206&lpg=PA206&dq=tuonela+finnish+description&source=bl&ots=kCx4-Xssqs&sig=uk5tax_A7Muf_Tmghkz9rvqoe-o&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4qMKUrTsD-jF2AXEuYHwCQ&ved=0CEsQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=tuonela%20finnish%20description&f=falsehttp://books.google.com/books?id=NwCDdSmFJPEC&pg=PA206&lpg=PA206&dq=tuonela+finnish+description&source=bl&ots=kCx4-Xssqs&sig=uk5tax_A7Muf_Tmghkz9rvqoe-o&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4qMKUrTsD-jF2AXEuYHwCQ&ved=0CEsQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=tuonela%20finnish%20description&f=falsehttp://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Places/District/1014599http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Places/District/1014599


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According to the Zoroastrian religion, the first thing the soul encounters after death isthe

Chinavat Bridge, which separates the worlds of the living and dead. The bridge is thinner than a

hair, yet sharper than a blade, and is guarded by two four-eyed dogs. Souls are then judged based

their deeds in life. If the bad deeds outweigh the good the bridgeturns on its side, dumping thesoul into the demon-filled pit below. Alternate descriptions talk of the demon Vizaresh emerging

from the pit and dragging the wicked soul into the House of Liesthe Zoroastrian version of

hell.

The House of Lies itself is described as a place of disgusting filth, where people are servedspoiled food and continuously tortured for their deeds. The demons of the House of Liesnumberin the hundreds, with each representing a specific sin. For example, Apaosha is the demon of

drought and thirst, while Zairika is the demon that makes poisons. Descriptions of the House of

Lies vary depending on the translation of ancient Zoroastrian texts, but the elements described

above are commonplace to all descriptions.

7Duat (Egypt)
http://www.sacred-texts.com/earth/pf/pf21.htmhttp://www.sacred-texts.com/earth/pf/pf21.htmhttp://www.sacred-texts.com/earth/pf/pf21.htmhttp://www.sacred-texts.com/earth/pf/pf21.htmhttp://books.google.co.uk/books?id=g2W0keFro08C&pg=PA63&lpg=PA63&dq=house+of+lies+zoroastrianism&source=bl&ots=Nw-B_d1Rpm&sig=dBiRUtAGoAP5Edro_ijRsNtKP1c&hl=en&sa=X&ei=9EwmUofOOtCjhgeVn4CgCQ&ved=0CDsQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=house%20of%20lies%20zoroastrianism&f=falsehttp://books.google.co.uk/books?id=g2W0keFro08C&pg=PA63&lpg=PA63&dq=house+of+lies+zoroastrianism&source=bl&ots=Nw-B_d1Rpm&sig=dBiRUtAGoAP5Edro_ijRsNtKP1c&hl=en&sa=X&ei=9EwmUofOOtCjhgeVn4CgCQ&ved=0CDsQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=house%20of%20lies%20zoroastrianism&f=falsehttp://books.google.co.uk/books?id=g2W0keFro08C&pg=PA63&lpg=PA63&dq=house+of+lies+zoroastrianism&source=bl&ots=Nw-B_d1Rpm&sig=dBiRUtAGoAP5Edro_ijRsNtKP1c&hl=en&sa=X&ei=9EwmUofOOtCjhgeVn4CgCQ&ved=0CDsQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=house%20of%20lies%20zoroastrianism&f=falsehttp://books.google.com/books?id=wiO05cZGnA8C&pg=PA134&lpg=PA134&dq=Drujo+Demana&source=bl&ots=hAGHEgmE4I&sig=9I_oPrMvWFnHQN4wf4wd1ih3EcU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=PQ4kUp3xBeKnigKglIGICA&ved=0CEwQ6AEwBzgK#v=onepage&q=Drujo%20Demana&f=falsehttp://books.google.com/books?id=wiO05cZGnA8C&pg=PA134&lpg=PA134&dq=Drujo+Demana&source=bl&ots=hAGHEgmE4I&sig=9I_oPrMvWFnHQN4wf4wd1ih3EcU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=PQ4kUp3xBeKnigKglIGICA&ved=0CEwQ6AEwBzgK#v=onepage&q=Drujo%20Demana&f=falsehttp://books.google.com/books?id=wiO05cZGnA8C&pg=PA134&lpg=PA134&dq=Drujo+Demana&source=bl&ots=hAGHEgmE4I&sig=9I_oPrMvWFnHQN4wf4wd1ih3EcU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=PQ4kUp3xBeKnigKglIGICA&ved=0CEwQ6AEwBzgK#v=onepage&q=Drujo%20Demana&f=falsehttp://books.google.com/books?id=wiO05cZGnA8C&pg=PA134&lpg=PA134&dq=Drujo+Demana&source=bl&ots=hAGHEgmE4I&sig=9I_oPrMvWFnHQN4wf4wd1ih3EcU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=PQ4kUp3xBeKnigKglIGICA&ved=0CEwQ6AEwBzgK#v=onepage&q=Drujo%20Demana&f=falsehttp://books.google.com/books?id=wiO05cZGnA8C&pg=PA134&lpg=PA134&dq=Drujo+Demana&source=bl&ots=hAGHEgmE4I&sig=9I_oPrMvWFnHQN4wf4wd1ih3EcU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=PQ4kUp3xBeKnigKglIGICA&ved=0CEwQ6AEwBzgK#v=onepage&q=Drujo%20Demana&f=falsehttp://books.google.com/books?id=wiO05cZGnA8C&pg=PA134&lpg=PA134&dq=Drujo+Demana&source=bl&ots=hAGHEgmE4I&sig=9I_oPrMvWFnHQN4wf4wd1ih3EcU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=PQ4kUp3xBeKnigKglIGICA&ved=0CEwQ6AEwBzgK#v=onepage&q=Drujo%20Demana&f=falsehttp://books.google.co.uk/books?id=g2W0keFro08C&pg=PA63&lpg=PA63&dq=house+of+lies+zoroastrianism&source=bl&ots=Nw-B_d1Rpm&sig=dBiRUtAGoAP5Edro_ijRsNtKP1c&hl=en&sa=X&ei=9EwmUofOOtCjhgeVn4CgCQ&ved=0CDsQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=house%20of%20lies%20zoroastrianism&f=falsehttp://www.sacred-texts.com/earth/pf/pf21.htmhttp://www.sacred-texts.com/earth/pf/pf21.htm


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The Ancient Egyptian Coffin Texts describe a version of the afterlife known as Duat, ruled over

by Osiris, the god of the dead. The Book of Two Wayscontains a mapdepicting the journey one

must take through Duat. The book describes a landscape similar to Earth, but also containing

mystical elements like a lake of fire and iron walls. When approaching Duat, souls had to passthrough gates guarded by half-animal, half-human creatures with evocativenames likeBlood-

Drinker Who Comes From The Slaughterhouse or One Who Eats The Excrement Of His

Hindquarters. After passing through thegates, the deceased persons heart was weighed againsta feather. If the heart was heavier than the feather, itwould be eatenby the demon Ammut. The

souls of the wicked were then condemned to face justice in Duat. Many were forced to walkupside down or receive punishments from serpents and devouring demons.

6Gehenna
http://www.hell-on-line.org/TextsEGY.htmlhttp://www.hell-on-line.org/TextsEGY.htmlhttp://www.hell-on-line.org/TextsEGY.htmlhttp://ancientegyptonline.co.uk/book-of-gates.htmlhttp://ancientegyptonline.co.uk/book-of-gates.htmlhttp://ancientegyptonline.co.uk/book-of-gates.htmlhttp://egypt.mrdonn.org/weighingheart.htmlhttp://egypt.mrdonn.org/weighingheart.htmlhttp://egypt.mrdonn.org/weighingheart.htmlhttp://egypt.mrdonn.org/weighingheart.htmlhttp://ancientegyptonline.co.uk/book-of-gates.htmlhttp://www.hell-on-line.org/TextsEGY.html


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The name Gehenna originally referred to a valleyoutside of Jerusalemwhere followers of the

god Moloch sacrificed children in great fires. It later came to refer to the Hebrew interpretation

of hell, where the wicked were sent to pay for their sins. Gehenna resembles the Christian

version of hell more closely than most entries on this list. Its described as a deep and desolateplace where flamescontinuously burnand rain from the sky. The heat given off by the flames is

60 times hotter than any flames found on Earth. Noxious sulfuric gasses hang in the air and

rivers of molten metal flow freely.

5Tartaros
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/6558-gehennahttp://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/6558-gehennahttp://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/6558-gehennahttp://www.theopedia.com/Gehennahttp://www.theopedia.com/Gehennahttp://www.theopedia.com/Gehennahttp://www.theopedia.com/Gehennahttp://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/6558-gehenna


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Found in Greek and Roman mythology, Tartaros is described as a deep black dungeon full of

torture and suffering. While most believe Hades to be hell, it is actually just a place for all the

dead, with Tartaros being even deeperthan Hades and reserved only for sinners. People are sent

to Tartaros after Rhadamanthus judges them and decides their punishment.

In Roman mythology, Tartaros is surrounded by three walls and the fiery river Phlegethon. It is

guarded by a nine-headed monsterknown as the hydra, along with Tisiphone, who watches overeverything while constantly whipping people from his post. At the bottom of Tartaros are the

Titans, enemies of the gods who were defeated and imprisoned.

Similarly, Greek mythology described Tartaros as a place that began as a prison for those that

would endanger the gods, but later began functioning as a hell for all sinners. Wicked souls are

punished in ways appropriate to their sins. For example, Tantalus was banished to Tartaros aftercutting up his son and serving him to the gods as food. He was punished to suffer hunger and

thirst, while standing in a pool of water he could not drink, below fruits that he could not eat.

4Dantes Hell
http://www.theoi.com/Kosmos/Tartaros.htmlhttp://www.pantheon.org/articles/t/tartarus.htmlhttp://www.tribunesandtriumphs.org/roman-gods/tartarus.htmhttp://library.thinkquest.org/J002356F/tartarusprison.htmhttp://library.thinkquest.org/J002356F/tartarusprison.htmhttp://www.tribunesandtriumphs.org/roman-gods/tartarus.htmhttp://www.pantheon.org/articles/t/tartarus.htmlhttp://www.theoi.com/Kosmos/Tartaros.html


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Many popular conceptions of the Christian hell can be traced back to the Renaissance poet Dante

Alighieri. His Divine Comedy describes allegorical journeys through heaven, purgatory, and

hell.Infernobegins with a sub-level where people are doomed to reside for doing nothing in life.

They are punished in this realm by having to eternally chase after their self-interest while beingfollowed by a swarm of insects and infected by maggots. A river known as Acheron surrounds

the nine circles of hell itself. The first circle is a fairly pleasant place called Limbo, which is

home to non-Christian souls who committed no sins.

The remaining levels correspond to each of the seven deadly sins. In the second circle, the lustfulare punished by being blown around aimlessly by strong winds. The third circle houses gluttonsand addicts, who are forced to remain in a disgusting slime. The fourth level contains two groups

of sinners, those who hoarded money and those who wasted it, who must endlessly battle each

other. Those who commit sins in anger remain in the fifth circle, where they fight each otherin

the river Styx, unable to ever feel happiness again. In the sixth level, heretics are locked inflaming tombs.

The seventh circle is divided into sections for violence against others, suicides, and violence

against nature or God. The eighth circle is reserved for frauds and split into sub-levels where

sinners have their heads twisted backwards and are whipped by demons, submerged in feces,

burned on the soles of their feet, placed in a boiling lake, bitten by snakes, dismembered, anddiseased. The last of the circles is home to those who committed treachery and are doomed to a

specific icy punishment. In the center of hell, Satan himself is found chewing on Cassius, Brutus,

and Judas.

3Naraka
http://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/inferno/summary.htmlhttp://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/inferno/summary.htmlhttp://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/inferno/summary.htmlhttp://www.4degreez.com/misc/dante-inferno-information.htmlhttp://danteworlds.laits.utexas.edu/circle5.htmlhttp://danteworlds.laits.utexas.edu/circle5.htmlhttp://www.4degreez.com/misc/dante-inferno-information.htmlhttp://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/inferno/summary.html


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Naraka or Niraya is the concept of hell for some branches of Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, and

Buddhism. While the exact descriptions of Naraka differ between religions, it is a place of

punishment based on a souls karma. Naraka is only a temporary destination and once the sinners

have paid the price for their karma, they are reborn.

It is thought to be divided into several levels depending on the sins committed during life. The

number of levels in Naraka varies from four to over 1,000 based on different descriptions. Forexample, Maharaurava is a place for those who gain at the expense of others. In Maharaurava,

the sinner has his or her flesh eaten by a serpent demon known as Ruru. The realm Kumbhipakais home to sinners that cook birds and animals. They are punished by being boiled in hot oil forthe same amount of time as there were hairs on the animals they killed.

In the Hindu and Jain culture, Naraka is thought to be ruled by Yama Loka, the God of Justice.Once a person passes away, their actions throughout life areaudited by Lokas assistantand they

are either sent to Svarga (heaven) or Naraka. Unlike Hinduism or Jainism, Buddhists believe that

all souls are sent to Naraka to be cleansed of their sins, and no ruler exists to audit peoplesactions in life. Regardless of cultural variation, it is believed that souls can remain in Naraka for

billions of years until their karma has been restored and their souls may be reborn.

2Diyu
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/vp/vp064.htmhttp://vedabase.net/sb/5/26/en2mhttp://www.metaphysics-knowledge.com/miscellaneous/what-is-naraka.html/http://www.metaphysics-knowledge.com/miscellaneous/what-is-naraka.html/http://www.metaphysics-knowledge.com/miscellaneous/what-is-naraka.html/http://books.google.com/books?id=2vgbURej-qAC&pg=PA73#v=onepage&q&f=falsehttp://books.google.com/books?id=2vgbURej-qAC&pg=PA73#v=onepage&q&f=falsehttp://www.metaphysics-knowledge.com/miscellaneous/what-is-naraka.html/http://vedabase.net/sb/5/26/en2mhttp://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/vp/vp064.htm


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Diyu is a version of hell in traditional Chinese culture, and vaguely resembles Naraka. It consists

of several levels, with the exact number differing from four to 18. Each level is watched over by

a judge and punishments are carried out on sinners based on their actions during life. Chinese

culture believes Yama Loki of Naraka was asked to watch over Diyu, where he eventuallycondensed the 96,816 hells into 10 sections that sinners would pass through before reincarnation.

During the Tang Dynasty, this description changed to 134 hells, with 18 levels of pain and

torture.

The most common description of the levels includes the Chamber of Tongue Ripping, TheChamber of Scissors, The Chamber of Iron Cycads, the Chamber of Mirror, Chamber ofSteamer, Forest of Copper Column, Mountain of Knives, the Hill of Ice, Cauldron of Boiling Oil,

Chamber of Ox, Chamber of Rock, Chamber of Pounding, Pool of Blood, Town of Suicide,

Chamber of Dismemberment, Mountain of Flames, Yard of Stone Mill, and Chamber of Saw.

The worst level of this hell is known as Avici, which is reserved for the worst sinners. Avici isunlike the other levels of Diyu because souls that end up here remain for eternity with no more

hope to be reborn.

1Xibalba
http://kgorman.ca/mid-week-mythology-diyu-the-chinese-hell/http://weber.ucsd.edu/~dkjordan/chin/yuhlih/yuhlih-intro.htmlhttp://www.china-underground.com/magazine/the-eighteen-layers-of-chinese-hellhttp://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/iti/iti.intro.than.html#glossaryhttp://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/iti/iti.intro.than.html#glossaryhttp://www.china-underground.com/magazine/the-eighteen-layers-of-chinese-hellhttp://weber.ucsd.edu/~dkjordan/chin/yuhlih/yuhlih-intro.htmlhttp://kgorman.ca/mid-week-mythology-diyu-the-chinese-hell/


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Xibalba is the Mayan version of hell and is thought to actually exist as a physical place in a cave

system near Belize. It was said to be a place of pain, where the lords of the afterlife inflicted

various odd forms of torture on unlucky souls. The lords were said to work together to inflict the

punishments on Xibalba visitors. Ahalpuh and Ahalgana caused pus to gush from peoplesbodies. Chamiabac and Chamiaholom caused the bodies of the dead to decay into skeletons.

Ahalmez and Ahaltocob worked much like Mayhem does in those Allstate commercialsby

causing people deadly disasters in their homes. Xic and Patan brought death to people on theroad, either by causing them to vomit blood, or squeezing them until blood filled their throats.

Souls were forced to complete a difficult and humiliating path just to reach Xibalba. Theirjourney began by crossing several rivers filled with blood, scorpions, and pus. Then the path split

into four roads designed to entertain the lords by humiliating and confusing the travelers.

Visitors were further tested by being sent into one of six deadly houses. The Dark House is pretty

self-explanatory, as is the Jaguar House, Razor House, Hot House, and Bat House. The lasthouse, known as the Rattling or Cold House, is filled with hail and freezing temperatures.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/world/americas/11iht-mexico.1.17713209.html?_r=0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y07LWxXiV8Ehttp://theabysmal.wordpress.com/2007/02/24/the-nine-lords-of-xibalba/http://www.sacred-texts.com/etc/omw/omw81.htmhttp://www.chapala.com/chapala/magnifecentmexico/path/path.htmlhttp://www.chapala.com/chapala/magnifecentmexico/path/path.htmlhttp://www.sacred-texts.com/etc/omw/omw81.htmhttp://theabysmal.wordpress.com/2007/02/24/the-nine-lords-of-xibalba/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y07LWxXiV8Ehttp://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/world/americas/11iht-mexico.1.17713209.html?_r=0

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