Many
Indo-European mythologies show evidence for a belief in some form of "Otherworld". In many cases, such as in
Iranian, Greek, Roman, Germanic, Celtic, Slavic, and Baltic mythologies, a river had to be crossed to allow entrance to it, and it is usually an old man that would transport the soul across the water. The Celtic concept of the Otherworld became intertwined with the Christian ideas of hell and heaven, as they were explained via analogy to the Celtic Otherworld, or the Scandinavian world tree. This is likely because of
Roman and
Scandinavian influences on Celtic cultures. An example of Scandinavian influence is apparent in the Voyage of Saint Brendan, from the likeness of Lasconius the serpent to the Scandinavian
Midgard Serpent. Red and white are the colors of animals in the Celtic Otherworld, and these colors still animate transcendent religious and political symbols today.
Germanic As was the case in the
Celtic mythologies, in Germanic myths
apples were particularly associated with the
Otherworld. In the Scandinavian tradition mythological localities are featured, as in
Irish mythology; however, unlike Irish mythology, an attempt was made to map the localities of the Otherworld rather than list locales associated with it. In the
Edda, many locations are named, including the dwellings of the gods, such as Odin's hall of
Valhalla, or
Ullr's dwelling of
Ydalar (
"Yewdale"). It was also said that spring arrived on Earth from Vyraj. The gates of Vyraj stopped mortals from entering. They were guarded by
Veles, who sometimes took the animal form of a
raróg, grasping in its claws the keys to the otherworlds. Vyraj was sometimes also connected to the deity known as
Rod – it was apparently located far beyond the sea, at the end of the
Milky Way.
Greek In Greco-Roman mythology the Gods were said to dwell on
Mount Olympus, whereas the dead usually went to the
Underworld,
Fortunate Isles, or
Elysium for the righteous after death. In
Hades, Cerberus serves as its guard; preventing the dead from leaving. == Modern depictions ==