Sanisera Fieldschool 2010, session 4: Roman Mythology of the Afterlife, by Kelly Lougheed

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.