Tartarus

 

Welcome to the realm of Tartarus, the hell for the Ancient Greeks. It is also called “The Pit” in many ancient texts. Originally, this area was reserved to hold the enemies of the Gods of Olympus. However, over time Tartarus grew in ancient text to be a contrasting location to Elysium which is the Greek heavenly realm.

All of the dead are sent to the realm, Hades by the way of the River of Styx on a ferry. Individuals are then judged by the three demi-god ministers of Hades, Rhadamanthus, Minos and Aeacus before being deemed wicked enough for The Pit. At the Gates of Tartarus, three vicious winged women called Furies drag the condemned across the tops of the gates and hurl them into the pit beyond. Tartarus exists far below as a place to punish the wicked for the sins they committed while they were alive. The worst type of sins to commit are crimes against the Gods. The punishments which are given to individuals each fit the unique situation. It can include being forced to repeatedly attempt impossible tasks such as carry water in buckets with holes, or it can be sitting in the presence of a feast but not being able to eat or drink. It can also include painful torture like being attacked by animals or being tied to a rotating wheel of fire.

Once the sinners experienced their punishment, they are washed out of Tartarus on a river to Hades. On the shore of Hades, they must beg those who they wronged in their lifetime to forgive them and let them into Hades. If they are denied they are pulled back down to Tartarus for more torture; this continues until they are forgiven and let into Hades. Because of this cycle, Tartarus can be the eternal end point for the souls of some individuals.

 

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