The underworld is the domain of Hades, the god of the underworld. The underworld itself was often called Hades. It was divided into three regions: Erebus, where the dead pass as soon as they die; Tartarus, the deeper region, where the Titans had been imprisoned; and Elysium Fields, the paradise for the Greeks. The underworld was a dim and unappy place, inhabited by shadows and guarded by Cerberus, the three-headed, dragon-tailed dog. Sinister rivers separated the underworld from the world above, and the aged boatman Charon ferried the souls of the dead across these waters.
Entrance
The Entrace to the Underworld
The entrance into the Land of the Dead, was often difficult. The traveler had to find the cavern, or underground river and follow the path down into the earth.
After you find the path, you will likely to meet a river called Acheron. It is the river of woe, sadness, or affliction. Acheron was the son of Gaea but was said to have quenched the thirst of the Titans during the was between the Titans and the Olympians war, and Zeus threw Acheron into the underworld to become the first river there.
A dead soul, Hermes brought paying Charon to get across the river.
When you reach the river, you will meet Charon. Charon is the official ferryman of the underworld, travel regularly on the river Acheron, but some said he travel on the river Styx (another river in the underworld). To be able to get across the river, the dead souls must have a coin or an obolus, or payment, that was placed in the dead person's mouth. If you can not make the payment you will not be able to get across the river.
Charon rowing his boat & Cerberus guarding the entrance Erebus.
Charon will take you across the river, then after you get across you will go to the entrance was or vestibule. It was called Erebus, a place through which all of the dead had to pass.
After you enter the Erebus you will meet the three judges. They are Aeacus (son of Zeus and Aegina) who judges the Europeans, Rhadamanthus (son of Zeus and Europa) who judges the Asiatics, and Minos (brother of Rhadamanthus) who judges the difficult cases. They are prepared to send souls that meet them either to Tartarus or Elysium Fields.
The next step was to cross the river of lamentation or wailing. Which is called the Cocytus river. In the journey to Tartarus or Elysium Fields you will likely to meet the three Fates. They are the one who measures, spuns, and cuts the thread of life. For which they are the one who controls you destinies.
The Furies, is shown with serpents on his hair.
Also in this realm you will meet the Furies and Nemesis. The Furies have serpents in their hair and blood dripping from their eyes, they pursue sinners on earth, but they live in the underworld. Nemesis is the spirit of punishment and the goddess of retribution, she was a sister to the Fates and was known as the divine arbiter of justice.
Nemesis
You will meet Hecate on the way to you destination point. She is the queen of the dead and goddess of magic charms and enchantments. As the goddess of witchcraft and sorcery, she was said to haunt the tombs of the dead and scenec of crimes while on earth.
The river Styx had nine loops and surrounded the underworld. Originally she was a daughter of the Titans and helped the Olympians in the war, so she became the river of the gods. If a god swore by her, the oath can not be taken back.
Getting closer to Tartarus, you will be greeted by Cerberus, a watchdog at the gates of Tartarus. He had three heads, a dragon tail, and venom dipping from all three mouths. He would let the souls in but not out. However he could be bribeb with a honey cake on occasion or with sweet music.
Phlegethon (River of Fire) & Tartarus
Tartarus surrounded by Phlegethon
Phlegethon is the river of fire, it led and surrounded Tartarus. Tartarus itself formed a dismal picture, it had gates of bronze guarded by Cerberus, surrounded by fire, encased by triple wall, and within, the wailing and cries of those being punished. It is the underworld zone of eternal torment, where the greatest sinners have been punished for their wrong doing.
Sisyphus, Tantalus, Ixion, Danaids
Some of those souls that are undergoing their punishments are Sisyphus, Tantalus, Ixion, Danaids. Sisyphus is a soul in torment, he died but by a trick he escaped from the underworld to return to earth. He was recaptured and for his trickery he was condemned to forever roll a rock up a hill only to have it roll back down. Tantalus was guilty of many crimes, but the worst was serving his son to the gods as dinner. The gods discovered his plot and he was punished to stand forever in a pool of water, unable to drink, and within reach of fruit trees, but unable to eat. Ixion direspect the gods and attempted to win the love of Hera. He was condemned for his presumption, and punish to roll forever on a wheel of fire throughout Tartarus. Finally, the Danaids, they were all guilty of murdering their husbands. Originally, there were fifty sisters, married to fifty male cousins. Then they killed 49 of the husbands on their wedding night. Their punishment were to fill a barrel with water from a nearby stream, but the water had to be carried in sieves ( a container with holes).
Thanatos (Mors), Hypnos (Somnus), Morpheus
Thanatos/Mors (death)
If you are not going to Tartarus, you would then find a path closer to the Elysium Fields. In the Land of Sleep, you will meet Thanatos/Mors (death), Hypnos/Somnus (sleep, who is the brother of death), and Morpheus (the son of sleep and god of dreams).
The Elysium Fields
At last souls will reachs Lethe, the last river. It is the river of forgetfulness, on the edge of the Elysium Fields. One cup of water from the river and the soul forgot their past. From there, the soul moved into the Elysium Fields, the enjoyment of the Happy Isles, where the soft breezes always blew and the hideous creatures of the other infernal regions were barred from entrance.
Nearby the Elysium Fields stood Persephone's grove of black poplars and sterile willows, for nothing truly fruitful could bloom in the underworld.
Hades & Pershepone
Finally at the end of our journey we meet Hades & Persephone.