Though its name may differ from one set
of teachings to another, almost every religion that we know of believe that
there is a special and horrific place for the souls of those who have been
banished for purposes of either penance or perpetual punishment.
From the toxic tunnels in Turkey, to the
tricky Mayan City of Xibalba, and all the way to the Greco-Roman temples
dedicated to Hades, cultures around the world have stories of fire and
brimstone that speak of doorways, caves and rivers on Earth leading to hell or
the underworld. These purported entrances to the netherworld are scattered
across the globe, and while many of them have already fallen to ruin, they are
all still sites of mystery and danger that continue to grab the attention of
even the best of us. Let’s look at actual places on earth people believed were
entrances to hell.
Cape Matapan Caves
Cape Matapan was one of the several
entrances that the Ancient Greeks once ascribed to Hades, the Kingdom of the
Shades. When Orpheus headed down to Hades in order to rescue Eurydice, it was
believed that he had done so through a cave on Cape Matapan. Hercules, too,
allegedly used these caverns when he ventured into the underworld as well.
The Cape Matapan Caves are located on the
southernmost tip of the Greek mainland. Also known as Cape Tainaron, or Tenaro,
it is situated on the end of the peninsula currently known as the Mani. In
modern times, the caves at Cape Matapan can still be entered by visitors.
However, they must ride a boat if they want to pass through this hell-gate.
Hekla
This active volcano located in the
southern mountains of Iceland has developed its reputation as a gateway to hell
sometime in the 12th century, after its historic 1104 eruption. The monk
Benedict’s 1120 poem about the voyages of Saint Brendan referred to Hekla as
the “eternal prison of Judas.” In 1341, the medieval Icelandic manuscript
“Flatey Book Annal” described large birds that were seen flying inside the
volcano’s fiery crater, and these creatures were believed to be the swarming
souls of the damned.
There have been more than 20 serious
volcanic eruptions of Hekla recorded since 874 AD. Since its activity has
remained somewhat peaceful in recent years, most superstitions surrounding
Hekla disappeared by the 19th century. However, even in recent times, Hekla has
kept its diabolic status, as local folklore claims it to be a place where
witches meet with the devil.
Lacus Curtius
At present, this pit in the Roman Forum
doesn’t look like much, but according to a legend told by the Roman historian
Livy, Lacus Curtius was once a wide chasm that appeared in the middle of Rome,
and nothing could fill it.
According to Livy’s story, an oracle once
prophesized that the chasm would not close and that the Roman Republic would
fall unless the city sacrificed that which had made it strong. To a man named
Marcus Curtius, the strength of Rome lied in its weapons and the bravery of its
citizens. And so, fully armored and armed, Marcus Curtius rode his horse,
entered the chasm, and supposedly went straight into the underworld. Because of
his bravery, the chasm closed and the city was saved.
Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave
This place was once believed to be the
entrance to the Mayan underworld known as “Xibalba”. The name Actun Tunichil
Muknal translates to “Cave of the Crystal Sepulchre,” and extensive research
has linked the site to ancient Mayan legends that speak of rivers of blood and
scorpions and a vast subterranean labyrinth ruled over by the demonic death
gods of Xibalba.
The caves of Actun Tunichil Muknal have
become a popular destination for explorers since it was rediscovered back in
1989. One of the more notable discoveries in the caves is the skeleton of an
18-year-old-girl who is believed to have been ritualistically sacrificed and
murdered for the Death Gods of Xibalba. More than a thousand years since her
death, her bones calcified, creating a shimmering crystal effect which earned
her skeleton the nickname the “Crystal Maiden.”
Ploutonion
For thousands of years, the Ancient Greek
site known as “Ploutonion” or “Pluto’s Gate” was dismissed as nothing more than
a work of fiction. That is until the site was rediscovered in 1965 in the
ancient city of Hierapolis, which is near modern-day Pamukkale, in Turkey.
Long believed to have been a gateway to
hell, an archaeological dig revealed the remains of an ancient temple, believed
to be the sacred Temple of Pluto, which is situated on its thermal spring.
One of the distinctive features of
Pluto’s Gate are the toxic fumes which travels from the tunnels beneath. In
ancient times, these fumes were often inhaled by the priests of Pluto, which
inevitably sent them into hallucinogenic trance states. Even now, the poisonous
vapors of the area take the lives of birds that fly too close to the ruins.
Fengdu City Of Ghosts
The 2,000-year-old City of Ghosts is
located in the Chonqing municipality of China, and it has long been believed to
be a pit-stop of the dead on their way to the afterlife.
Founded during the Han Dynasty, which
ruled China between 206 BC and 220 AD, the City of Ghosts bases its heritage on
the story of two renegade officials who escaped the wrath of the emperor. Their
names, Yin and Wang, were later used to create the title for one of the rulers
of hell – “Yin Wang.”
Fengdu is famous for its traditional
architecture and elaborate craftsmanship. Its streets and squares are filled
with statues of ghosts and demons, but it’s most striking landmark is arguably
“The Ghost King” – a giant, carved face looking down on the city from a rock
face. Measuring about 452 feet tall and 712 feet across, it is considered as
the largest rock sculpture in the world.
Chinoike Jigoku
Unlike some of the entrances mentioned
here, the Chinoike Jigoku is easily accessible by bus, and is designated as a
“Place of Scenic Beauty.” Japan’s Beppu City is the home to a series of nine
hot springs, and each one flows in a different color and composition. At the
heart of these health spa pools lies the dark legend involving the pool known
as Chinoike Jigoku or the “Bloody Hell Pond.”
This particular pond gets its name from
its rich hellish red color which comes from the natural iron oxide deposits
located on the pond bed. The Bloody Hell Pond is presided over by a collection
of sculpted demons, some of which were carved into the rocks themselves.
The Chinoike Jigoku has been likened by
Buddhists to the bubbling pits of hell, and in olden times, the Bloody Pond –
which is very hot at around 78 degrees Celsius – had been used to torture
prisoners before they were boiled alive.
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