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Hades
To the Lord of the Underworld
By: Jennifer H. Wright
Deep
beneath our Earth from which we tread, lives a god whom many dread.
Yet still they hope to gain his favor, for forged within the eternal flame of our planets core,
are the rich treasures of gems we admire and adore.
Where the sun never touches is another beauty to be found,
in the darkness that surrounds ---.
Ah sweet and lovely is lord Hades lair,
Where his queen brings her loveliness most fair.
Truly no enchantment need provoke one to love one so fine.
She brings to us the balance below so we may live comfortably above,
Praise to you fair Persephone whom we do love.
As does your mother holy Demeter bringer of the grain and harvest.
I pray I may pass these earthly trials on my heavenly
quest,
that I may join the heroes in the fields when this life is done but never the test.
Here is a short tour (some
general information) on Tartarus
that may be helpful towards any questions about the "Underworld"...:
Relatives of the dead can leave a coin under the tongue of the corpse to pay
Charon.(
Charon
is really cool in our opinion - he is the old miserly figure whom
ferries the souls across Styx.)A three headed dog by the name of Cerberus
guards the opposite shore of Styx. The first region of Tartarus holds the Asphodel Fields. This
is where souls of heroes stray without any sense of purpose. They enjoy having libations of blood poured into them
by the living: when they partake of the blood they feel almost
as real men again. Beyond there is Erebus and the palace of Hades and Persephone. Near
there the new arrivals are judged by Minos, Rhadamanthys, and Aeacus at the place
where three roads intersect. After each verdict is given the ghosts are directed upon
one of the roads accordingly.. They would be directed back to the Asphodel Meadows, if they are not virtuous or
evil, they would go to punishment in Tartarus if found evil, but they would be lead to the orchards of Elysium if they are
virtuous. Elysium
is ruled over by Cronus.
It is a happy cheery place where there is never any kind of bad weather.
There are always games, music and feasting. There the people may elect whether or not they wish to incarnate. There
is also a place called Fortunate Islands, reserved for those born three times and three times been to Elysium. Further more and in
addition according to some Greek theology the soul was reborn again and again into lives more happier or more bitter
than the previous one according to the purity or impurity of it's former life... this wheel of rebirth would keep
churning until complete purity had been achieved and the soul was admitted to the Islands of the Blest. It has also been known
that there was hope to those admitted to Hades through penances performed in advance by the individual or after their death by
family and friends.
