| ORCUS:
The ancient Romans were indisputably great warriors, but as a culture they
had little imagination. Their mythology is almost entirely composed of
bits and pieces of legends absorbed from peoples they conquered. From
Greek myth comes Orcus, the Roman counterpart of HADES, lord of the
underworld. Orcus is a grim, cold god who collects dead souls and
takes them to the underworld. He is a just overseer of the dead who is
not evil or bloodthirsty. Orcus simply sees to it that spirits receive
whatever punishment they have earned through their crimes. The myth of
Orcus is not as complex as that of Hades, since Roman legends are more basic
and rarely include colorful details.
In Virgil's AENEID, the story of a
fantastic journey to the underworld, the hero Aeneas passes through the Gate
of Orcus on his mythic voyage. In this realm are all types of hideous
beasts and fearsome monsters. Other tales link Orcus to DIS, a cruel
lord of the damned who tortures spirits in the afterlife.
(o)
Resource List - all entries are taken verbatim from the
original source:
(o) "The Encyclopedia of Hell."
Miriam Van Scott. St. Martin's Press. ©1998
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