The ''Gates of Hell''

By Crusader1307

  As we have investigated in great detail, every Culture and Religious Belief System of Earth – has some form of ''Underworld'' mythology. In Western Culture (and a few Ancient Ones as well), ''Hell'' is the most appropriate nomenclature given. Much of what ''We'' perceive (in both Literature and in Art Form) of ''Hades'' was very much influenced by early Medieval Art and The Church. As the dominant form of religious belief and instruction, The Catholic Church had Hell portrayed as a place of ultimate punishment and eternal damnation, for those who transgressed against God. As such, Hell was (and is) seen as a place of ''eternal fire and suffering''. The Resident aggressor of course, is Satan. Both He and His Minions (Demons), take great pains to inflict all manner of deprivation to ensure that One truly suffers for their Sins on Earth.

However, while much had been written in Literature (and later interpreted in film), no clear cut proof of just what Hell looks like or even is. But much as our Ancestors portrayed their visions of damnation, one constant seems to be found in all version. Hell is accessed via a series of Gates or related Entrances. Since Medieval Art firmly showed great ''stone and iron'' constructs to represent just ''how'' One accessed damnation, The ''Gates of Hell'' are so envisioned. Often ''guarded'' by Demons (guards who are tasked to ensure all so condemned enter), such images were still seen as elements of a particular Writer or Artist.

Several Religious Clergy (and a few Lay Persons as well), have either come close to death or reported the psychic experience of ''going to'' Hell. Often, these persons ''came back'' to relate their ''journey'' so that others might ''learn'' of it and correct their ''wayward life''. Several of these ''journeys'' were even bound into whole volumes of works (Sr. Faustina or Sr. Emmerick being two comparative examples from both the 20th and earlier 18th Centuries). Both seem to establish much of what One would expect of the ''suffering of Hell''. As with most belief systems in conclusion....it is up to your own beliefs to either accept or deny any such claims!