SP GR: Ancient Greece

From this world to the afterlife. Stratification in Greek myths of the passage into peripheral spheres

The subproject (SP) examines stratification processes in Greek myths that deal with a transition into peripheral spheres. Remarkable developments of the mythic notions on the “final things” can be observed in Greek texts from the 8th to the 4th century BC: Firstly, there is evidence of a multi-level differentiation of the fate of death that is originally common to all human beings, and in addition to Hades there are more positive afterlife spaces, such as the Elysium and the Fortunate Isles; secondly, one can observe a considerable increase and functional differentiation of the underworld personnel that is now needed for the journey from life through death into the afterlife, which is divided into ever more stages. The SP director is researching the precise way in which these developments took place and which historical and spiritual contexts evoked or promoted them.
In addition to the diachronically arranged work of the SP director, the SP is conducting detailed research of the range of topics at specific, selected points by concentrating on Ulysses’ visit to the Underworld in Book XI of the Odyssey (“Nekyia”) and comparable temporary descents into the realm of the dead (journeys to Hades by Dionysus, Orpheus, Theseus and Peirithoos, Herakles, Psyche, as well as comparable Erzählstoffe from the field of ancient Near Eastern literatures). The description in the Nekyia already shows that the underworld offers not only terrors but also valuable gifts, even for the living. The SP assistant investigates to what extend there are positive expectations of Hades that encourage heroes or deities to venture into this dismal realm.