The concept of an underworld is found in almost every civilization and "may be as old as humanity itself".[2] 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.[3] People with high social status were dressed and equipped in order to better navigate the underworld.[4]
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.[5] 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".[6]
This list includes underworlds in various religious traditions, with links to corresponding articles:
| Ethnicity, religion, or region | Name of underworld |
|---|
| Albanian mythology | Ferri |
| Aztec mythology | Mictlan |
| Mesopotamian religion | Irkalla |
| Baduy & Sundanese mythology | Buana Larang |
| Buddhism | Naraka (also Niraya) |
| Celtic mythology | Annwn, Mag Mell, Dubnos |
| Chinese folk religion / Taoism | Míngjiè 冥界, Huángquán 黄泉, Dìyù 地狱 |
| Christian mythology | Hell, Tártaro, Purgatory, Hades |
| Egyptian religion | Aaru, Duat, Neter-khertet, Amenti |
| Estonian mythology | Toonela |
| Fijian mythology | Burotu, Murimuria[7] |
| Finnish mythology | Tuonela |
| Georgian mythology | Kveskneli |
| Germanic religion | Hel, Náströnd, Niflhel |
| Greek religion | See main article: Greek underworld. Elysium, Asphodel Meadows, Tartarus
|
| Guanche mythology | Echeide, Guayota |
| Hinduism | Patala, Naraka or Yamaloka |
| Hittite mythology | Dankuš daganzipaš/Dankuš tekan (dark earth) |
| Hopi mythology | Maski |
| Hungarian mythology | Alvilág |
| Inca mythology | Uku Pacha |
| Inuit mythology | Adlivun |
| Islamic mythology | Jahannam, Sijjin |
| Jainism | Naraka, Adho Loka (the lower world) |
| Shinto | Yomi 黄泉, Ne-no-Kuni 根の国, Jigoku 地獄 |
| Jewish mythology | Sheol, Abaddon, Tehom (in Kabbalah), Tophet, Tzoah Rotachat, Dudael |
| Korean mythology | |
| Latvian mythology | Aizsaule |
| Lithuanian mythology | Anapilis mountain |
| Malay mythology | Alam Ghaib (The unseen realm) |
| Indonesian mythology |
| Mandaeism | World of Darkness (alma d-hšuka) |
| Māori mythology | Hawaiki, Rarohenga, Rangi Tuarea, Te Toi-o-nga-Ranga, Uranga-o-te-rā |
| Mapuche mythology | Pellumawida, Degin, Wenuleufu, Ngullchenmaiwe |
| Maya mythology | Xibalba or Metnal |
| Melanesian mythology | (includes Fijian) Bulu, Burotu, Murimuria, Nabagatai, Tuma |
| Oromo mythology | Ekera |
| Zoroastrianism | Duzakh |
| Philippine mythology | Kasanaan |
| Polynesian mythology | Avaiki, Bulotu, Iva, Lua-o-Milu, Nga- Atua, Pulotu, Rangi Tuarea, Te Toi-o-nga-Ranga, Uranga-o-Te-Ra |
| Pueblo mythology | Shipap |
| Roman mythology | Orcus, Inferi Di, Avernus |
| Romanian mythology | Tărâmul Celălalt |
| Slavic mythology | Nav, Podsvetie, Peklo, Vyraj |
| Sumerian mythology | Kur, Hubur |
| Turko-Mongol | Tamağ |
| Vietnamese mythology | Âm phủ 陰府, Địa ngục 地獄 |
| Wagawaga (New Guinea) mythology | Hiyoyoa | |
This list includes rulers or guardians of the underworld in various religious traditions, with links to corresponding articles.
| Origin | associated deity/spirits |
|---|
| Aboriginal mythology | Baiame (Kamilaroi), Eingana |
| Akkadian mythology | Allu, Anu, Anunnaku, Ereshkigal, Etemmu, Gallu, Humbaba, Mamitu, Nergal, Utnapishtim |
| Albanian mythology | E Bukura e Dheut |
| Turko-Mongol | Erlik |
| Armenian mythology | Spandaramet |
| Aztec mythology | Mictlantecuhtli & Mictecacihuatl (advocations: Chalmecacihualt, Chalmecatl) |
| Babylonian mythology | Erra, Nergal, Ninlil, Sursunabu, Ur-shanabi, Utnapishtim |
| Balinese mythology | Batara Kala, Setesuyara |
| Bon mythology | gNyan |
| Buddhism | King Yama |
| Canaanite mythology | Mot, Arsay |
| Celtic mythology | Aed, Arawn, Cwn Annwn, Donn, Gwyn ap Nudd, Manannán mac Lir, Pwyll, Nemain, The Morrigan, Taranis (sometimes in popular culture). |
| Chinese folk religion | Yanluo Wang, Heibai Wuchang, Ox-Head and Horse-Face, Meng Po, Zhong Kui |
| Christianity | Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub, Belial |
| Egyptian mythology | Aken, Aker (strictly only the gatekeeper), Am-heh, Amunet, Ammit, Andjety, Anubis, Apep, Apis, Astennu, Ha, Imiut (if the Imiut was ever considered a god), Isis, Mehen, Naunet, Nehebkau, Nephthys, Nun, Nut, Osiris, Ptah, Seker, Thoth, Wepwawet |
| Elamite mythology | Jabru |
| Estonian mythology | Vanapagan |
| Etruscan mythology | Charun, Culsu, Februus, Mania, Mantus, Nethuns, Tuchulcha, Vanth |
| Fijian mythology | Degei |
| Finnish mythology | Kalma, Kipu-Tyttö, Kivutar, Lovitar, Surma, Tuonen akka, Tuonetar, Tuoni, Vammatar |
| Greek mythology | Cerberus, Charon, Hades, Pluto, Keres, Persephone, Thánatos, Eris, Hermes, Hera |
| Georgian mythology | sasuleti |
| Germanic religion | Garmr, Hel, Rán, Níðhögg |
| Haida mythology | Ta'xet, Tia |
| Hattian mythology, Hittite mythology | Lelwani |
| Hinduism | Yama |
| Hopi mythology | Maasaw |
| Hungarian mythology | Ördög |
| Ibo mythology | Ala |
| Incan mythology | Supay, Vichama |
| Indonesian mythology (ancient Javananese, Sundanese and Balinese) | Batara Kala guardian for sinners souls' underworld, Dewi Sri guardess for the righteous souls' underworld |
| Islam | Maalik (Guardian) |
| Inuit mythology | Pana, Sedna |
| Japanese mythology | Izanami-no-Mikoto, Jikininki, Shikome, Shiryō, Susanoo-no-Mikoto |
| Judaism | Satan, Malach HaMavet ("Angel of Death") (both are associated with Samael), Malachei Habala ("Sabotage Angels"), Dumah |
| Kassite mythology | Dur |
| Khmer mythology | Preas Eyssaur |
| Latvian mythology | Veļi, Veļu māte, Zemes māte |
| Lithuanian mythology | Velnias, Velinas |
| Levantine mythology | Mot, Arsay |
| Lunda mythology | Kalunga |
| Mandaean mythology | Ruha, Ur, Krun, Gaf, Qin, Zahreil, Lilith, Niuli, Saṭani, Latabi, Nalai, Gadulta, Anathan, Giu, Shdum, Zartai-Zartanai, Hag, Mag |
| Maori mythology | Hina, Hine-nui-te-Po, Kewa, Mahiuki, Rohe, Whiro |
| Maya mythology | Ah Puch (Lords: Hun-Came & Vucub-Came) |
| Melanesian mythology | (includes Fijian mythology) Degei, Ratumaibulu, Samulayo |
| Narragansett mythology | Chepi |
| Navaho mythology | Estsanatlehi |
| Niquiran mythology | Mictanteot |
| Ob-Ugrian mythology | Heini-iki |
| Orokolo mythology | Kiavari |
| Persian mythology | Angra Mainyu, Azhi Dahaka, Div (mythology) |
| Philippine mythology | Magwayen/Maguayen, Sidapa |
| Phoenician mythology | Horon |
| Phrygian mythology | Men |
| Polynesian mythology | Hikuleo, Hina, Hine-nui-te-Po, Kanaloa, Kiho-tumu, Makea Tutara, Mahuika, Mahu-ika, Marama, Mauri, Merau, Milu, Miru, Rimu, Rohe, Whiro |
| Prussian mythology | Picullus |
| Pueblo mythology | Iyatiku |
| Roma (Gypsy) mythology | Beng |
| Roman mythology | Cerberus, Dea Tacita, Dis Pater, Egestes, Fames, Inferi Di, Larenta, Letum, Libitina, Mors, Orcus, Pluto, Proserpina, Viduus |
| Romanian mythology | Diavolu, Satana, Necuratu, Scaraoschi |
| Russian mythology | Dyavol, Satanaya |
| Saami mythology | Yambe-akka |
| Salish mythology | Amotken |
| Siberian mythology | Chebeldei, Kul |
| Slavic mythology | Crnobog, Flins, Marzana, Nyia, Veles (god) |
| Sumerian mythology | Edimmu, Ekimmu, Endukugga, Enmesharra, Ereshkigal, Gidim, Nintinugga, Irkalla, Kur, Namtar, Nergal, Bitu, Nindukugga, Ninlil, Urshanabi, Ziusudra |
| Syrian mythology | Reshep |
| Tamil mythology | Cur |
| Thracian mythology | Heros |
| Turkic mythology | Erlik |
| Vietnamese mythology | Quảng Cung, Thập điện Diêm Vương, Hắc Bạch vô thường (couple of messengers lead the souls of the dead to the Âm phủ), Đầu Trâu Mặt Ngựa (has the same task as Hắc Bạch vô thường), Mạnh Bà (the maker of the oblivion soup called cháo lú by the Vietnamese) |
| Wagawaga mythology | Tumudurere |
| Welsh mythology | Annwfn or Annwn |
| Yoruba mythology | Esu, Oya |
| Yurak mythology | Nga |
| Zuni mythology | Uhepono | |
