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[[File:Nekyia_Staatliche_Antikensammlungen_1494_n2.jpg|Nekyia Staatliche Antikensammlungen 1494 n2|thumb]] '''Tartarus''' is a term originating from [[Ancient Greek mythology]], denoting a deep, gloomy part of the [[underworld]], where the gods imprison their enemies. It is both a deity and a place in Greek mythology, embodying the abyss used as a dungeon of torment and suffering for the wicked and as the prison for the [[Titans]].

==Etymology and Origins==
The word "Tartarus" is of [[Pre-Greek substrate|Pre-Greek]] origin, suggesting it was incorporated into Greek mythology and language from earlier beliefs. In the [[Greek language|Greek]] mythos, Tartarus is mentioned as early as in [[Homer]]'s ''[[Iliad]]'' and ''[[Odyssey]]'', where it is depicted as a deep, dark pit located as far beneath [[Hades]] as the earth is beneath the heavens. It was considered the most severe punishment for the enemies of the gods, a place where souls were judged and, if found wanting, sentenced to eternal damnation.

==In Greek Mythology==
In the cosmogonical structure of the ancient Greeks, the universe was divided into three parts: the heavens or [[Olympus]], the earth, and the underworld. Tartarus was part of the underworld, a place where the wicked were punished and where the Titans, the predecessors of the Olympian gods, were imprisoned after their defeat in the [[Titanomachy]], the war between the Titans and the Olympians.

One of the most famous myths involving Tartarus is the story of [[Zeus]]'s victory over the Titans. After the war, Zeus imprisoned the Titans in Tartarus, which was then guarded by the Hecatoncheires, giants with a hundred hands and fifty heads. Other notable figures said to be punished in Tartarus include [[Tantalus]], [[Sisyphus]], and [[Ixion]], all of whom endured eternal punishments for their sins against the gods.

==Cultural Impact==
The concept of Tartarus played a significant role in Greek culture and was used by philosophers like [[Plato]] in his work ''[[Republic (Plato)|Republic]]'' to describe a place where the souls of the most wicked were sent after death for eternal punishment. This notion of an afterlife where souls are judged and rewarded or punished had a profound influence on later religious and philosophical thought, contributing to concepts of hell in Christian theology.

==In Literature and Art==
Tartarus has been a subject of fascination and inspiration in various works of literature and art throughout history. From ancient texts to modern interpretations, it has been depicted as the ultimate prison, a symbol of divine justice, and a warning to the living to lead righteous lives. In visual art, Tartarus is often portrayed as a dark, forbidding place, filled with tormented souls and monstrous guardians.

==See Also==
* [[Hades]]
* [[Underworld]]
* [[Greek mythology]]
* [[Titanomachy]]

[[Category:Greek mythology]]

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Tartarus - Revision history

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