Greek & Roman Hell: Visions, Tours and Descriptions of the Infernal Otherworld

The literary texts of the ancient Mediterranean present a fairly clear picture of an underworld and bear witness to the changes in its nature and purpose. The strong stamp of Hesiod and Homer defines the geography and inhabitants of later underworld descriptions. Plato and the mystery religions leave their mark on the genre, while satirical and comic works provide us with a totally different perspective on ancient beliefs.

Works written during the long interval between the Iliad and the Odys...