The Labyrinth as Katabasis Descent into the Underworld

The Labyrinth as Katabasis = Descent into the Underworld • The Labyrinth • Descent into the Underworld

The Cyclops’ Cave as Katabasis

Odsysseus’ Descent into the Underworld Odysseus and Elpenor Odysseus and Tiresias Odysseus also meets Agamamnon and Achilles See Odyssey XI

Other Descents: Heracles and Cerberus Museum Collection: Musée du Louvre, Paris, France Catalogue Number: Louvre E 701 Beazley Archive Number: N/A Ware: Caeretan Black Figure Shape: Hydria Painter: -Date: ca 530 BC Period: Archaic

Cerberus

Hercules seizing Cerberus | Hercules approaches Cerberus as Athena looks on. Note the doric column and frieze used to indicate the palace of Hades. Andocides Painter (Paris, Louvre)

Cerberus in Dante’s Inferno Etching by Gustave Doré (1832 -1883) . . . And my Conductor, with his spans extended, Took of the earth, and with his fists well filled, He threw it into those rapacious gullets (Inferno VI 25 -37)

Other Descents: Theseus Heracles Rescuing Theseus From the Chair of Forgetfulness

Aeneas’ Katabasis Sibyl leading Aeneas through the Underworld Jan Breughel II (1601 -1678) Brussels, Royal Museum of Ancient Art of Belgium

Orpheus and Eurydice Relief Sculpture, c. Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples. (From L to R: Hermes, Eurydice, Orpheus)

Orpheus Leading Eurydice. Camille Corot, 1861. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

Underworld Scenes in Star Wars ?

In the Death Star Garbage Dump The Dianogas (fleshy tentacled creatures which feed on waste materials IV, 32 -34

In the Wampa’s Cave V. 5

In The Rancor’s Cave VI. 10

Failure in the Cave But is it REALLY FAILURE? V. 29