I agree with greekgod! there. Hades (the place) doesn't necessesarily equal hell and Hades (the god) isn't the equivalent of the Christian devil (like what Hollywood would have us to believe).
Hades (the god) isn't demonic nor benevolant. His only purpose is to rule over the dead and only gives mercy to others if he want to.
Hades (the place) is the AFTERLIFE of the Greeks. It's where the souls of the dead go when they're finished in this life. As what greekgod! has explained there, there are 3 sections of Hades beyond the river Styx: - The Ashphodel Fields are for those ordinary souls who didn't do much in their previous lives. It's like purgatory, but you don't get to clean up your sins. - The Elysian Fields is the ancient Greek version of heaven. Here dead heroes and souls who were exceptionally good stayed here after they died. - Tartarus. Now THIS is the Greek version of hell. This is where the souls are punished.
As you can see, Underworld does not necessarily equal to hell.
Hades (the god) isn't demonic nor benevolant. His only purpose is to rule over the dead and only gives mercy to others if he want to.
Hades (the place) is the AFTERLIFE of the Greeks. It's where the souls of the dead go when they're finished in this life. As what greekgod! has explained there, there are 3 sections of Hades beyond the river Styx:
- The Ashphodel Fields are for those ordinary souls who didn't do much in their previous lives. It's like purgatory, but you don't get to clean up your sins.
- The Elysian Fields is the ancient Greek version of heaven. Here dead heroes and souls who were exceptionally good stayed here after they died.
- Tartarus. Now THIS is the Greek version of hell. This is where the souls are punished.
As you can see, Underworld does not necessarily equal to hell.
Anyway great article. :D