The Greek underworld represents a unique place where individuals can find their souls after death. It is the realm where the individual's essence is transferred. They can reunite with loved ones and start a new life. It's a fascinating place and is worth exploring. Continue reading to learn more about this ancient land.
Homer's Homeric Hymn to Demeter
Homer’s Homeric Hymns consists of 33 hymns to Gods that are in Greek. These hymns follow the same dialect of the Iliad as the Odyssey and have epic meters. They are among the most recognizable pieces of ancient Greek literature.
The Homeric Hymn for Demeter deals specifically with Persephone's death. Cronos, Persephone's father had made a marriage with Hades and, after Persephone was killed, the earth opened to allow Hades to return from underground.
Homer's Oedipusrex
Oedipus summons the blind prophet Tiresias to begin Homer's Oedipus reX story. Tiresias claims to have the answer but refuses speaking. Oedipus then hears the story and goes into deep denial. He accuses Tiresias for being complicit with Laius’s murder. Oedipus believes that Creon paid Tiresias for this.
Oedipus Rex, a Greek tragedy dating back to the 4th Century BC, is known. The play begins with Oedipus the king Of Thebes asking Creon about the plague that has afflicted Thebes. The oracle reveals that the plague is due to the unsolved murders of Laius. Oedipus vows that he will find Laius to solve the plague.
Homer's Orpheus
Homer's Iliad was the first time Orpheus, a Greek mythology figure, appeared in Homer in the 7th Century BCE. His story ended in the ninth century CE. He was a mortal and sometimes a demigod who was married to the famous sea nymph Eurydice.
The story of Orpheus is a classic example of a reincarnation story. Homer describes the process in the Iliad, and the Odyssey of rebirth. He also explains how the Moirae women function. The Orphic stories can be layered over the Homeric description the afterlife.
Homer’s Eurydice
Homer's Eurydice is a classical Greek myth about a mortal nymph and her love affair with the god Orpheus. The story begins around 7th century BC, when Eurydice is first mentioned in Homer's Iliad. It ends around 9th century CE. Eurydice was the goddess of Apollo's daughter and she wed Orpheus, the legendary musician.
Eurydice fell for Orpheus. They eventually became lovers and were married. Sadly, however, Orpheus broke his promise to never look back. Upon leaving Eurydice, he tried to go back to the Underworld to plead with the gods for her life. When he got there, he discovered that Hades had blocked his entry to Hades. He couldn't even sing.