CHAPTER15
VIEWS OF THE AFTERLIFE:
THE REALM OF HADES
HOMER'S BOOK OF THE DEAD
The earliest surviving account of the realm of Hades appears in Book 11 of the
Odyssey. Homer's geographical and spiritual depiction is fundamental to sub-
sequent elaborations and thus deserves to be excerpted at some length. Odysseus
is telling the Phaeacians and their king Alcinoiis of his visit to the Underworld,
where he must consult the seer Tiresias about how to reach Ithaca, his home-
land (12-99):f
Our ship came to the farthest realm of deep-flowing Oceanus, where the coun-
try of the Cimmerians lies shrouded in cloud and mist. Bright Helius never looks
down on them with his rays, either when he ascends to starry heaven or returns
to earth; but dire night covers these poor mortals. Here we beached our ship,
and after putting the animals ashore, we went along the stream of Oceanus un-
til we came to the place that Circe had indicated. Here two of my men, Per-
imedes and Eurylochus, held the sacrificial victims, and I drew my sharp sword
from my side and dug a pit about eighteen inches square. Around it I poured a
libation to all the dead, first with a mixture of honey and milk, then with sweet
wine, and a third time with water; over this I sprinkled white barley. I then sup-
plicated the many strengthless spirits of the dead, promising that once I had
come to Ithaca I should sacrifice, in my own halls, a barren heifer, the very best
I had, and heap the sacrificial pyre with the finest things and offer separately to
Tiresias alone a jet-black sheep that was outstanding among my flocks.^1
When I had finished entreating the host of the dead with prayers and sup-
plications, I seized the victims and cut their throats, and their dark blood flowed
into the pit. Then the souls of the dead who had departed swarmed up from
Erebus:^2 young brides, unmarried boys, old men having suffered much, tender
maidens whose hearts were new to sorrow, and many men wounded by bronze-
tipped spears and wearing armor stained with blood. From one side and an-
other they gathered about the pit in a multitude with frightening cries. Pale fear
took hold of me, and then I urgently ordered my companions to flay the ani-
mals which lay slaughtered by the pitiless bronze and burn them and pray to
the gods, to mighty Hades and dread Persephone. But I myself drew my sword
from my side and took my post and did not allow the strengthless spirits of the
dead to come near the blood before I had questioned Tiresias.328