The best-known gods of the underworld are Hades in Greek mythology, Pluto and Dis Pater in Roman mythology, Osiris and Anubis in Egyptian mythology, Hel in Norse mythology, Yama in Hindu mythology and Ereshkigal in Mesopotamian mythology. Most cultures have a god of death or a divine being closely associated with death, an afterlife or an underworld, and these figures are often among the most powerful and important entities in a given tradition.
This list groups underworld gods and goddesses by mythology, with roles as given in the standard reference list of death deities.
Greek
- Hades, king of the underworld and god of the dead.
- Persephone, queen of the underworld, wife of Hades and goddess of spring growth.
- Thanatos, personification of death. His Roman counterpart is Mors.
- Hermes, the messenger god who acted as psychopompos.
- Charon, a daimon who acted as ferryman of the dead.
- Hecate, goddess of witchcraft, who helped Demeter in the search for Persephone and was allowed to live in the Underworld as her magic works best at night.
- Erebus, the primordial god of darkness, whose mists encircled the underworld.
- Tartarus, the darkest, deepest part of the underworld, often used for imprisoning enemies of the Olympians.
- Styx, goddess of the river Styx, a river that formed a boundary between the living and the dead.
Roman
- Pluto, ruler of the Underworld.
- Dis Pater, god of the underworld.
- Proserpina, queen of the underworld.
- Mors, personification of death, whose Greek equivalent is Thanatos.
- Libitina, goddess of funerals and burials.
- Orcus, punisher of broken oaths, usually folded in with Pluto.
Egyptian
- Osiris, lord of the Underworld.
- Anubis, guardian of the dead, mummification and the afterlife in ancient Egyptian religion.
- Nephthys, Anubis’ mother and sister of Osiris and Isis, also a guardian of the dead who was believed to escort dead souls to Osiris.
- Wepwawet, a wolf god of war and brother of Anubis, seen as one who opened the ways to, and through, Duat for the spirits of the dead.
- Seker, a falcon god of the Memphite necropolis, known as a patron of the living as well as a god of the dead.
Mesopotamian
- Ereshkigal, first lady of the Underworld.
- Nergal, second lord of the Underworld.
- Namtar, Ereshkigal’s sukkal.
- Nungal, daughter of Ereshkigal.
- Enmesharra, a primordial deity described as “lord of the underworld”.
Germanic
- Hel, goddess of the dead and ruler of the land of the same name.
- Odin presides over Valhalla and gets half of those who die in battle.
- Freyja presides over Fólkvangr and chooses half of those who die in battle.
- Rán, the sea goddess who collects the drowned in her net.
Celtic
- Arawn, Ankou (Breton), Donn, Cichol, Crom Cruach, Mannanan and The Morrigan are the Celtic figures on the list.
Etruscan
- Aita, Mantus and Orcus, gods of the underworld.
- Vanth, a winged spirit of the underworld.
- Mania, goddess of the dead.
Hindu
- Yama, the god of death and divine judge of the afterlife.
- Chitragupta, Yama’s record keeper, who keeps account of the good and misdeeds of souls.
- Kali, Shiva’s spouse, strongly associated with death and destruction.
Japanese
- Izanami, who became queen of the underworld, Yomi, and goddess of the dead when she died.
- Enma, god and ruler of the dead in Japanese Buddhism.
- Shinigami, god of death.
Chinese
- Yanluo Wang (King Yama), one of the emperors of Youdu, the capital city of the underworld.
- Meng Po is also listed among the underworld figures.
Yoruba
- Iku, personification of death.
- Ọya, oriṣa of storms and the dead.
- Yewa, oriṣa of fertility, decay and cemeteries, guardian of the transition between life and death.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Greek god of the underworld? Hades, king of the underworld and god of the dead. Thanatos is the personification of death.
Who is the Roman god of the underworld? Pluto, the ruler of the Underworld, along with Dis Pater.
Who is the Egyptian god of the underworld? Osiris, lord of the Underworld, with Anubis as guardian of the dead.
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