The Moon in Carolina Eps. 28: How the Underworld Became Hell
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Nov 21, 2024 Dive into the intriguing evolution of the Underworld to modern-day Hell. Explore ancient Mesopotamian neutrality versus Egyptian moral judgment in the afterlife. Discover Greek and Roman adaptations and their impact on later beliefs. Uncover the dramatic shift from a neutral realm to a place of punishment in Christianity. This journey reveals how ancient rituals and philosophical concepts shaped our understanding of morality, accountability, and the afterlife through the ages.
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Neutral Afterlife
- The Mesopotamian underworld, Kur, was a neutral realm for all souls.
- It wasn't based on moral judgment, unlike later beliefs.
Inanna's Descent
- Inanna's descent into Kur involved shedding her power at each gate.
- This symbolizes death's stripping of earthly identity.
House of Dust
- Enkidu's vision in the Epic of Gilgamesh portrays the underworld as the "house of dust."
- It's a bleak, neutral realm where the dead consume clay and dust.