The Greek Gods of Death

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Ancient Greek Mythology for Kids - The Gods of Death
The myths and legends surrounding the Greek Gods of Death who resided in Hades the Underworld

Gods of Death for kids
Discover the legends and mythology surrounding all of the Greek Gods of Death and death spirits who resided in the infernal regions of Hades the Underworld. There were many Gods of Death in Greek mythology who undertook various duties surrounding the souls of the dead.

Gods of Death for kids
The Gods of Death resided in the dark, terrifying depths of the mysterious Underworld and in Tartarus (Hell) which was located in the bowels of the earth, the place of punishment where wicked souls suffered endless punishment and torture. Additional information about gods and goddesses and the beliefs of the ancient civilization of Greece are also available via:

Gods and Deities

Greek Gods Mythology

Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses

 

 

The Greek Gods of Death

The Greek Gods of Death and the Underworld
The Greek Gods of Death inhabited the terrifying realm of Hades, the Underworld. This was the dark domain of the god Hades the Prince of Darkness, his consort Persephone and other Death gods and Death goddesses who were also associated with all things mysterious and inexplicable including nightmares, sleep, ghosts, dreams, witchcraft, spells and enchantments.

Tartarus

Picture of Tartarus abode of the Gods of Death in Underworld

Greek Gods of Death - Psychopomps
Deities of the underworld, commonly called death deities or death gods, are referred to as Psychopomps who rule over the dead.

The Gods of Death - Hades the Underworld
Hades the Underworld consisted of different parts where the souls of dead mortals resided. The River Styx was a great black river that encircled the Underworld. Crossing the River Styx was the only route to the afterlife that was taken in a ferryboat rowed by a terrible, silent boatman, one of the gods of death named Charon the Ferryman. The souls of mortals who had led good lives were sent to the Elysian Fields, part of Elysium (equivalent to paradise). The souls of mortals who had led both good and evil lives on earth were sent to the Asphodel Meadows, where they were faced an eternity of endless toil. Those mortals that had led evil, unworthy lives were confined in the dark depths of Tartarus (Hell), in the rancid bowels of the earth, where no sunshine nor gleam of daylight ever appeared. The souls of the wicked suffered endless torture and punishments in Tartarus that were delivered by the Goddesses and Gods of Death. There was no escape from the gods of death and Tartarus which was surrounded by the River Phlegethon which flowed with fire that burned but did not devour fuel and was made of boiling blood.

Map of the Underworld of Hades

Map of Gods of Death

Gods of Death in the Underworld
The imaginary world of the Underworld, with its different provinces, including Gods of Death, was believed to be located in a subterranean region, the world of the dead where all souls passed after their time on earth. Gods of Death was the most feared of all the realms. The River Styx was the great black river that encircled the Underworld, one of five rivers in the Underworld. The only way to cross the River Styx was in a ferryboat rowed by a terrible boatman named Charon the Ferryman. After facing judgement those souls who had committed evil deeds were sent to Gods of Death (Hell). Gods of Death was said to be surrounded by massive, solid walls of unyielding strength surrounded by the river Phlegethon. The waves of which rolled flames of fire, and lit up, with their lurid glare, the awful realm of Gods of Death. The River Phlegethon (meaning flaming) was described as "a stream of fire, which coils round the earth and flows into the depths of Gods of Death". According to some myths the River Phlegethon flowed with fire that burned but did not devour fuel, other legends say that it was made of boiling blood.

Picture of Furies: Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrosyne

Picture of the Furies: Megaera, Tisiphone and Alecto

Gods of Death & the Underworld - the Journey of the Dead
The trials and journey of the dead were taken by all souls, both good and evil. On this journey they encountered many of the gods of death and spirits of the Underworld.

Mythical Facts about the Gods of Death - Journey of the Dead

Names of Gods of Death: Information and Facts about Gods of Death

Charon the Ferryman & Cerberus: The journey to the underworld began by crossing the River Styx requiring payment to Charon, the ferryman. The realm of the dead was guarded by Cerberus the grotesque three-headed hound who permitted all shades to enter, but none to return. The sight of the massive, monstrous Cerebus was the first to confront the souls of the dead when they alighted from the ferryman's boat

The Judges of the Dead Minos, Rhadamanthus and Aeacus: The shades then faced the 'Judges of the Dead' who judged whether the life of a mortal had been good or evil. The names of the three judges were Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aeacus. Europa was the mother of the three judges. Minos, who became king of Crete, was celebrated for his justice and moderation, and after death he was created one of the judges of the lower world, which office he held in conjunction with his brothers.

The Keres (Death Spirits): The souls made their confessions about their life on earth and their 'Ker', or life force was weighed by the Keres (the Death Spirits)

The Three Fates (The Moirai): The Judges of the Dead and the gods pronounced the precise torments and punishments of the evil and the Fates (Moirai) entered complete record of their mortal lives in the Archives of the Fates, on indestructible tablets of brass and iron

Hecate: The evil and wicked souls were sent to the Crossroads of Hecate and directed to Tartarus, literally the 'Road to Hell'

The Furies: The wretched sinners were seized by the terrible goddesses, called the Furies, who scourged them with their whips, and dragged them along to the the bronze Gates of Tartarus, literally the 'Gates of Hell', into whose awful depths they were hurled to suffer endless tortures and punishments.

Names of Gods of Death: Information and Facts about Gods of Death

Mythical Facts about the Gods of Death - Journey of the Dead

Gods of Death - Family tree & Genealogy of the Children of Nyx
Nyx, the dark goddess of darkness, was the mother of many of the Gods of death and darkness. Some were the result of her union with Erebus, another important god of the infernal region. The family members and genealogy of Nyx are detailed in the following family tree, providing an overview of the relationships between Nyx and some of the principle Greek gods and goddesses of death and the Underworld.

Nyx Family Tree and Genealogy

Facts about the Gods of Death and the Underworld
Many Gods of Death and the Underworld feature in Ancient Greek mythology. The following chart details some of the famous inhabitants of the infernal region. The facts about Gods of Death and the Underworld provides a list detailing fascinating additional info to increase your knowledge about Gods of Death and the Underworld and their roles in Greek Mythology and legends.

Greek Gods of Death and the Underworld

Names of Gods of Death: Description / Roles of the Gods of Death & the Underworld

Hades:

Hades was the Ruler of the Underworld, the 'Prince of Darkness'

Persephone: Persephone was Queen of the Underworld
 

Charon, the ferryman:

Charon, the boatman ferried souls over the River Styx
 

Eris: Eris the goddess of Discord, quarrels and feuds
 

Nemesis: Nemesis was the avenging goddess of Divine Retribution
 

Thanatos: The god of peaceful Death
 

Morpheus: God of Dreams
 

Hypnos: Hypnos was the god of Sleep who also brought nightmares to mortals.
 

The Oneiroi: The Oneiroi were the sons of Hypnos and the gods of dreams, called Morpheus, Icelus, and Phantasos
 

The Furies: The Furies, Megaera, Tisiphone and Alecto, were the tormentors and punishers of the souls in Tartarus
 

Oizys: Oizys, goddess of misery distress, anxiety and worry
 

Phobos: God of fear, terror and panic
 

Hecate: Goddess of magic and witchcraft
 

The Keres: The Keres, or “Death Fates” were 'scavengers who defiled the dead'
 

Geras: Geras the malevolent god of loathsome Old Age
 

Deimos: Deimos was the God of terror
 

Momos: Momus was the evil-spirited god of blame
 

Moros: Moros was the god of Impending Doom
 

The Fates: The Fates (Moirai) presided over destiny and kept records in the Archives of the Fates
 

Nyx: Nyx was the primordial dark goddess of Night and wife of Chaos, the mother of Erebus
 

Erebus: Erebus was the first god of the Underworld, a primordial deity associated with darkness
 

Tartarus: Tartarus was a primordial deity who the abyss used as the dungeon of torment that resides beneath the underworld was named after
 

Iapetus: The name of the Titan god Iapetus means 'piercer', and is an apt name as he was regarded as the god who brought forth violent deaths to mortals

Hades, the Underworld

Picture of Hades, the Underworld

Pallas: Titan God of warfare and warcraft
 

Perses: Perses was the Titan god of destruction and the father of Hecate
 

Melinoe: Goddess of ghosts
 

Epiphron: Epiphron the demon of shrewdness
 

Enyo: War goddess
 

Achlys: Achlys the spirit of the death-mist
 

Alastor: Alastor the spirit of blood feuds and vengeance
 

The Algea: The Algea were the spirits of pain and suffering: Achos, Ania and Lupe
 

Achos: Achos (trouble, distress) a spirit of pain and suffering
 

Ania: Ania (ache, anguish) a spirit of pain and suffering
 

Lupe: Lupe (pain, grief, sadness) a spirit of pain and suffering
 

Phrike: Phrike the spirit of horror and trembling fear
 

Names of Gods of Death: Description / Roles of the Gods of Death & the Underworld

Greek Gods of Death and the Underworld

Gods of Death

  • Names of the Gods of Death in the Ancient Greek Underworld
  • Interesting information and Facts about Gods of Death
  • Legends in Greek Mythology associated with Gods of Death
  • Facts and information about the Ancient World for schools and kids
  • Greek mythology and names of the Gods of Death
 

 
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