Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
DEATH, THE UNDERWORLD, AND THE AFTERLIFE World Mythology – Fall 2013 Why are people so concerned with death? Consciousness = what makes us human Only living things that can see our lives as continuous plot with beginning, middle, end Nature = cycles; why should we be different Tides, moon, day/night, seasons Natural return of whatever is lost Can’t imagine life going on without the consciousness we use to perceive it And so – the idea of an afterlife. Easier/more natural to believe our consciousness continues on in some way rather than just disappearing Souls in afterlife – often gain knowledge Not limited to past/present, also gain future No longer limited to physical boundaries/senses Death as a prelude to greater life, greater knowledge/wisdom/understanding Death as a Place – Ideas of an Underworld Distinct from Judeo-Christian concepts of Heaven/Hell Not necessarily about punishment/reward Often bleak – mirrors the feel of being literally underground, in a grave or cave Burial as return to “Mother Earth” (dualism!), return to universal womb to await rebirth Cremation as return to “Father Sky” – patriarchal cultures Often with a route/entrance daring adventurers can find and enter Death as a Place – Ideas of the Underworld Great rulers/kings in many cultures could go on to become judges in the underworld after death Gilgamesh Osiris (Egyptian) Minos (Greek) Great heroes can venture in Gain knowledge (Odysseus) Save a loved one (Orpheus) Rulers of the Underworld Mesopotamia: Ereshkigal •Sister and rival of Ishtar, goddess of love •Usually shown with eagle’s feet •Husband is Nergal, god of war , disease, and famine •Underworld is called Kurnugia Rulers of the Underworld Greek: Hades •Brother of Zeus and Poseidon •Wife is Persephone, goddess of spring •Realm often referred to as Hades also Rulers of the Underworld Norse: Hel •Daughter of evil giant/ trickster god Loki •Rules Niflheim •Depicted as half light and half dark, or half alive, half corpselike Death as a Person/Being Makes death seem controlled or planned rather than random Often separate from actual ruler of underworld Greek – Thanatos, god of death – depicted either as an old man with a sword or a boy like Cupid Judaism – many references to an “Angel of Death” In some Christian traditions – the Archangel Michael takes good souls home to Heaven From British/Celtic tradition – our image of the “Grim Reaper” Greek Death – The Basics 1.The person to die gets a visit from either Hermes/Mercury or Thanatos 2.Gets guided to the shores of the River Styx 3.If has been buried properly, has a coin in mouth to pay Charon, the boatman. 4.Proceeds into the Underworld, to one of several different directions. Geography of the Underworld Norse Death – the basics Hel – Ruler of Niflheim Located under the earth Long difficult journey over rough roads Dead buried with sturdy “Hel shoes” Horses or wagons burned on funeral pyres to help dead get there Cross the river Gioll Crystal/gold bridge suspended from a single hair The maiden Modgud – skeleton, guards the bridge Fierce dog Garm guards the Hel-gate Hel’s hall is Misery, her dish Hunger, her bed Sorrow. Norse Death – the basics Straw death – feared and despised Dying of old age, disease, in bed Dying without having shed blood People near the end would find violent ways to die Worthy death – death in battle Valkyries choose the slain to be taken to Valhalla, in Asgard/Gladsheim Eternity of fighting during the day, drinking and feasting all night in the hall of the gods Boar Saehrimnir Goat Heidrun Jewish Death Jewish afterlife seems to be more open to debate than in Christianity Very specific ritual requirements about how to respect a dead body, prescribed periods of mourning Some believe in a place like the Christian concept of heaven, some believe in reincarnation, some believe that people just wait/sleep until resurrection at the arrival of the Messiah. Can believe in a hell-like torment, or torment by demons of the person’s own making “Gathered to his people” “cut off from his people” This world is like a lobby before entering the banquet hall of the world to come Jewish Heaven and Hell? One concept Gan Eden – like Adam and Eve’s garden, but not exactly Place of spiritual peace and perfection Gehenna (Gehinnom) or Sheol Like Christian idea of hell, but 12 month time limit – punishment and purification One demon of torment for every sinful act Only the most wicked get the full 12 mos. After 12 months…? Annihilation? Purification? Who knows?