In the study of mythology and religion, the underworld is a generic term approximately equivalent to the lay term afterlife, referring to any place to which newly dead souls go. In most cultures the term refers to a neutral or dystopic realm of the afterlife, instead of a heavenly or paradisiac one. Sometimes the underworld is identified as "Hell" because Hell is thought to be under the Earth. [edit] Names of the Underworld | Altaic mythology | Yerlik (see Erlik) | | Aztec mythology | Mictlan | | Babylonian mythology | Kurnugia, Arallu (also sumerian) | | Buddhist mythology | Naraka (also Niraya) | | Celtic mythology | Annwn, Mag Mell | | Chinese mythology | Yum gan (陰間) is an underworld though not necessarily negative like Diyu (地獄) | | Christian mythology | Sheol/Hadēs (Abode of the dead), Gehenna/Tártaros (Hell), Abaddon, Limbo, Purgatory, Annihilationism | | Egyptian mythology | Aaru, Duat, Neter-khertet, Amenti | | Estonian mythology | Toonela | | Fijian mythology | see Melanesian mythology. | | Finnish mythology | Tuonela | | Greek mythology | Elysium, Asphodel Meadows, Hadēs, Tártaros | | Hebrew mythology [disambiguation needed] | Sheol, Gehenna | | Hindu mythology | Naraka, Yamaloka, Patala | | Hungarian mythology | Alvilág | | Inca mythology | Uku Pacha | | Inuit mythology | Adlivun | | Islamic mythology | Jahannam, Narr [disambiguation needed], Jannah, Barzakh, Araf, Dozakh | | Japanese mythology | Yomi, Jigoku | | Korean Mythology | "Ji-Ok" 지옥 地獄 | | Latvian mythology | Aizsaule | | Māori mythology | Hawaiki | | Mapuche mythology | Pellumawida, Degin, Wenuleufu, Ngullchenmaiwe | | Maya mythology | Metnal, Xibalba | | Melanesian mythology | (includes Fijian) Bulu, Burotu, Murimuria, Nabangatai, Tuma [disambiguation needed] | | Norse mythology | Gimlé, Hel, Niflheim, Vingólf | | Oromo mythology | Ekera | | Philippine mythology | Kasanaan, Empiyerno | | 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 | Inferno, Avernus, Orcus/Hadēs, Pluto | | Slavic mythology | Podsvetie, Peklo, Nava | | Sumerian mythology | Dilmun, Kur, Irkalla | | Vodou mythology | Guinee | | Wagawaga mythology | Hiyoyoa | [edit] Rulers of the Underworld (Note: this includes guardian-type creatures, ghosts, and spirits such as demons, veli, and Cerberus) | Aboriginal mythology | Baiame (Kamilaroi), Eingana | | Akkadian mythology | Allu, Anu, Anunnaku, Ereshkigal, Etemmu, Gallu, Humbaba, Mamitu, Nergal, Utnapishtim | | Albanian mythology | E Bukura e Dheut | | Altaic mythology | Erlik | | Armenian mythology | Spandaramat | | Aztec mythology | Mictlantecuhtli, Mictecacihuatl, Chalmecacihuilt, Chalmecatl | | Babylonian mythology | Erra, Nergal, Ninlil, Sursunabu, Ur-shanabi, Utnapishtim | | Balinese mythology | Batara Kala, Setesuyara | | Bon mythology | gNyan | | Buddhist mythology | Yama, Emma-O-, Yanluo | | Canaanite mythology | Mot | | Celtic mythology | Aed, Arawn, Cwn Annwn, Donn, Gwyn ap Nudd, Manannán mac Lir, Pwyll | | Chinese mythology | Gui, Yanluo | | Christian mythology | Demons, Devil, Satan | | 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 | | Elamite mythology | Jabru | | Estonian mythology | Vanapagan | | Etruscan mythology | Charun, Culsu, Februus, Mania, Mantus, Nethuns, Tuchulcha, Vanth | | Finnish mythology | Kalma, Kipu-Tyttö, Kivutar, Lovitar, Surma, Tuonen akka, Tuonetar, Tuoni, Vammatar | | Greek mythology | Cerberus, Charon, Hadēs, Keres, Persephone, Styx, Thánatos, Tártaros | | Georgian mythology | sasuleti | | Haida mythology | Ta'xet, Tia | | Hinduism | Yamaraja | | Hopi mythology | Kachina | | Ibo mythology | Ala | | Incan mythology | Supay, Vichama | | Indonesian mythology | Dewi Shri, Ndara | | Inuit mythology | Pana, Sedna | | Islamic mythology | Mala'ikah | | Japanese mythology | Hisa-Me, Hotoke, Ika-Zuchi-no-Kami, Jikininki, Shiko-Me, Shiti Dama, Shi-Ryo, Yama | | Kassite mythology | Dur [disambiguation needed] | | Khmer mythology | Preas Eyssaur | | Latvian mythology | Veli, Velu mate, Zemes mate | | Levantine mythology | Mot | | Lunda mythology | Kalunga | | Maori mythology | Kewa | | Maya mythology | Xibalba | | Melanesian mythology | (includes Fijian mythology) Degei, Ratumaibulu, Samulayo | | Narragansett mythology | Chepi | | Navaho mythology | Estanatelhi | | Niquiran mythology | Mictanteot | | Norse mythology | Garmr, Hel, Ran | | Orokolo mythology | Kiavari | | Persian mythology | Angra Mainyu, Azhi Dahaka, Peri | | Philippine mythology (Look to the Christian Mythology for more information) | ""Bathala", Demonyo Demon, Lucifer, Dyablo Diablo, Satan, Diyos God | | Phoenician mythology | Horon | | Phrygian mythology | Men | | Polynesian mythology | Hikuleo, Hina, Hine-nui-te-Po, Kanaloa, Kiho-tumu, Makea Tutara, Mahiuki, Mahu-ike, Marama, Mauri [disambiguation needed], Merau, Milu [disambiguation needed], Miru, Rimu, Rohe, Whiro | | Prussian mythology | Picullus | | Pueblo mythology | Iyatiku | | Roma (Gypsy) mythology | | | Roman mythology | Cerberus, Dea Tacita, Dis Pater, Egestes, Fames, Inferi Dii, Larenta, Letum, Libitina, Mors, Orcus, Pluto, Proserpina, Viduus | | Russian mythology | Dyavol, Satanaya | | Saami mythology | Yambe-akka | | Salish mythology | Amotken | | Siberian mythology | Chebeldei, Kul [disambiguation needed] | | Slavic mythology | Crnobog, Flins, Marzana, Nyia | | Sumerian mythology | Edimmu, Ekimmu, Endukugga, Enmesarra, Ereshkigal, Gidim, Gula, Irkalla, Kur, Namtar, Nergal, Neti, Nindukugga, Ninlil, Urshanabi, Ziusudra | | Syrian mythology | Reshep | | Tamil mythology | Cur | | Thracian mythology | Heros | | Turkic mythology | Erlik | | Vodou | Baron Cimetière, Baron La Croix, Baron Samedi, Ghede, Maman Brigitte, Marassa Jumeaux | | Wagawaga mythology | Tumudurere | | Yoruba mythology | Oya | | Yurak mythology | Nga | | Zuni mythology | Uhepono | [edit] References in popular culture This has influenced several gothic fiction texts. - Karzahni, where poor Matoran workers were sent before the Great Spirit Mata Nui's coming in the Bionicle mythos.
- In the television series Charmed, The Underworld was the residence of evil beings.
- From Star Trek, Gre'thor and Fek'lhr appear in Klingon mythology.
- In the television series Power Rangers: Mystic Force, the antagonists reside in a world which appears to be quite literally under the surface of the earth. Nevertheless, several ghoulish characters —such as Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies, Mummies and even someone very similar to Frankenstein's monster — act as primary residents (this version of the Underworld is more similar to Hades or Hell).
- Underworld (2003), a film directed by Len Wiseman and starring Kate Beckinsale about a war between vampires and werewolves. There was also a sequel - Underworld: Evolution (2006) and followed by a prequel, Underworld 3: The Rise of the Lycans
- In the animated television series Chaotic, there's a tribe called the UnderWorld in perim.
- In Tony Hawk's Underground 2 in the New Orleans area, if you complete the "Raise The Dead" goal, there will be a mini-movie showing the opening of the underworld in the middle of the city.
- In the anime Renkin 3-kyū Magical ? Pokān, four princesses (a witch, a vampire, a werewolf, and an android) live in Japan
Limbo is where the river of Styx is and King Minos the Judge of the Damned lives. | Underworlds | |  | |  | | |
