In Greek mythology, the underworld where spirits (shades) went after death, usually depicted as a cavern or pit underneath the Earth, the entrance of which was guarded by the three-headed dog
Cerberus. It was presided over by the god
Pluto, originally also known as Hades (Roman
Dis). Pluto was the brother of Zeus and married
Persephone, daughter of Demeter and Zeus.
Tartarus was the very lowest region of the underworld where the wicked were punished; it was a type of
hell.
Elysium, a paradise for those who found favour with the gods, was placed by later poets in a region of Hades and ruled over by Rhadamanthys, a judge of the dead. Entry to this land eventually became the reward of a good life.
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