The Greek underworld is a unique realm where individuals go after death. It is the place where one's essence is transferred. It is where they can be reunited with loved ones and begin a new chapter in their lives. It's a fascinating place and is worth exploring. Learn more about this ancient kingdom.
Homer's Homeric Hymn of Demeter
Homer's Homeric Hymns is a collection 33 hymns to gods, written in Greek. These hymns follow the same dialect of the Iliad as the Odyssey and have epic meters. These hymns are some of the most well-known pieces of ancient Greek literature.
The Homeric Hymn to Demeter deals with the loss of Demeter's daughter, Persephone. 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 Oedipus rex
Oedipus summons Tiresias the blind prophet to help him. This is the beginning of Homer’s Oedipus ReX. Tiresias claims to have the answer but refuses speaking. Oedipus is shocked to hear this and begins to accuse Tiresias. 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, king of Thebes, sending Creon to the oracle at Delphi to ask about a plague that afflicts Thebes. According to the oracle the plague is caused because of the unsolved Murder of Laius. Oedipus vows that he will find Laius to solve the plague.
Homer's Orpheus
The Greek mythology hero Orpheus made his first appearance in Homer's Iliad in the 7th century BCE. His story ends in 9th century CE. He was a mortal, sometimes demigod, but he was also a human who was later married to Eurydice the sea nymph.
Classic examples of reincarnation stories include the Orpheus story. Homer describes how rebirth works in the Iliad as well as the Odyssey. He also explains what the Moirae sisters do. The Orphic stories of the afterlife are interwoven with the Homeric description.
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 in love with Orpheus and they eventually got 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. Hades barred him from entering Hades when he arrived. He couldn't even enter the Underworld by singing.