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Roman Mythology of the Afterlife
Roman Mythology of the Afterlife
Kelly Lougheed
Necropolis Session #4
June 20, 2010
Kelly Lougheed
Necropolis Session #4
June 20, 2010
Adoption of BeliefsAdoption of Beliefs
Romans conquer the Greeks at the Battle of Corinth, 146 BC
“When the Romans conquered the Greeks, the Greeks civilized the Romans”
Romans conquer the Greeks at the Battle of Corinth, 146 BC
“When the Romans conquered the Greeks, the Greeks civilized the Romans”
Where is the Underworld?Where is the Underworld?
In the Aeneid, entrance to the underworld lies near Lake Avernus in Cumae, Italy
The cave of the Sybil sits on lake shores
In the Aeneid, entrance to the underworld lies near Lake Avernus in Cumae, Italy
The cave of the Sybil sits on lake shores
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Temple to Apollo on Lake Avernus.http://image62.webshots.com/162/9/62/21/503396221SUmdwv_ph.jpg
Journey of the DeadJourney of the Dead
Spirits lead the deceased to the river Styx
Charon rows the dead across the river for a feeMoney symbolic of the mortals'
debt to the godsCharon refuses passage to
souls whose bodies haven't been properly buried
Spirits lead the deceased to the river Styx
Charon rows the dead across the river for a feeMoney symbolic of the mortals'
debt to the godsCharon refuses passage to
souls whose bodies haven't been properly buried
CerberusCerberus
Three-headed dog
Friendly to entering shades
Makes sure no shades escape
Three-headed dog
Friendly to entering shades
Makes sure no shades escape
Fluffy, the three-headed dog from Harry Potter inspired by Cerberus.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1630000/images/_1630515_fluffy.jpg
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
God of the UnderworldGod of the Underworld
Greek name HadesOriginally chthonic god of fertile
landLater became underworld deity
equated with the Roman god PlutoSometimes referred to as Dis Pater
or OrcusDoesn't decide who lives or diesDoesn't actually kill people
Greek name HadesOriginally chthonic god of fertile
landLater became underworld deity
equated with the Roman god PlutoSometimes referred to as Dis Pater
or OrcusDoesn't decide who lives or diesDoesn't actually kill people
JudgmentJudgment
Warriors and heroes go to the Elysian Fields
Good citizens live as shades in the Asphodel Meadows
Those who have offended the gods are exiled to Tartarus
Three gods including Minos judge where each soul goes
Warriors and heroes go to the Elysian Fields
Good citizens live as shades in the Asphodel Meadows
Those who have offended the gods are exiled to Tartarus
Three gods including Minos judge where each soul goes
ReincarnationReincarnation
Drinking the water of the river Lethe causes amnesia
Occasionally Dis or Persephone will reprieve someone from death, and send them to drink from the "Water of Forgetfulness"
Drinking the water of the river Lethe causes amnesia
Occasionally Dis or Persephone will reprieve someone from death, and send them to drink from the "Water of Forgetfulness"
Underworld as a Reservoir of Knowledge
Underworld as a Reservoir of Knowledge In the Aeneid, Aeneas sees the
future heroes of Rome in the underworld ("Parade of Heroes")
Meets his dead father Anchises, who answers his questions and tells him his destiny
When Odysseus communicates with spirits of the dead, he meets heroes such as Agamemnon and Achilles
In the Aeneid, Aeneas sees the future heroes of Rome in the underworld ("Parade of Heroes")
Meets his dead father Anchises, who answers his questions and tells him his destiny
When Odysseus communicates with spirits of the dead, he meets heroes such as Agamemnon and Achilles
Greek vs. RomanGreek vs. Roman
“By god, I’d rather slave on earth for another man--some dirt-poor tenant farmer who scrapes to keep alive--than rule down here over all the breathless dead.”--Achilles (Odyssey 11.556-8)
“By god, I’d rather slave on earth for another man--some dirt-poor tenant farmer who scrapes to keep alive--than rule down here over all the breathless dead.”--Achilles (Odyssey 11.556-8)
Greek vs. RomanGreek vs. Roman
In The Odyssey, shades bombard Odysseus with sob stories and requests for information about their relatives
In the Aeneid, Aeneas sees a prophetic vision of Rome's future greatness
In The Odyssey, shades bombard Odysseus with sob stories and requests for information about their relatives
In the Aeneid, Aeneas sees a prophetic vision of Rome's future greatness
Difficulty of EscapeDifficulty of Escape
“…facilis descensus Averno;
noctes atque dies patet atri ianua Ditis;
sed revocare gradum superasque evadere ad auras,
hoc opus, hic labor est.”
--Sybil, Aeneid 6.126-9
“…facilis descensus Averno;
noctes atque dies patet atri ianua Ditis;
sed revocare gradum superasque evadere ad auras,
hoc opus, hic labor est.”
--Sybil, Aeneid 6.126-9
Anthropological Interpretations
Anthropological Interpretations
Jung equivocates the underworld with the unconscious self
Manifests in an archetype called the shadow, consisting of inferiorities and base instincts
Freud would equate the underworld with the Id
Jung equivocates the underworld with the unconscious self
Manifests in an archetype called the shadow, consisting of inferiorities and base instincts
Freud would equate the underworld with the Id
BibliographyBibliography
Homer, and Robert Fagles. The Odyssey. New York: Viking, 1996. Print.
Jung, C. G. Psychology and Religion. New Haven: Yale UP, 1992. Print.
"Roman Beliefs About the Afterlife." Nova Romana. 17 June 2010. <http://www.novaroma.org/religio_romana/afterlife.html>
Virgil, and Robert Fagles. The Aeneid. New York: Viking, 2006. Print.
Homer, and Robert Fagles. The Odyssey. New York: Viking, 1996. Print.
Jung, C. G. Psychology and Religion. New Haven: Yale UP, 1992. Print.
"Roman Beliefs About the Afterlife." Nova Romana. 17 June 2010. <http://www.novaroma.org/religio_romana/afterlife.html>
Virgil, and Robert Fagles. The Aeneid. New York: Viking, 2006. Print.