The most popular modern conception of Hell posits an underworld filled with fire and torment. Surprisingly, however, the concept of Hell in the Bible is almost entirely separate from this image: Hell was once viewed as a shadowy and unsavory yet fire-free underworld. The apocryphal - or non-canonical - books of the Bible that likely influenced the modern view of Hell drew on pagan imagery to construct the burning abyss we imagine today. Dante's Inferno, meanwhile, provides graphic descriptions of torment and the supposed geography of Hell, and modern conceptions still draw from this infamous story.
The popular view of Hell is changing: Though some people claim to have been to Hell, others, perhaps even the Pope, deny its existence entirely. Just as the Bible has undergone major changes since its inception, our idea of Hell has continuously transformed.
The Fires Of Hell May Have Originated From A Jerusalem Trash Heap
The New Testament term that most closely resembles modern conceptions of Hell is "Gehenna," the Hebrew word for "valley of Hinnom." This valley was an actual place in which Jerusalem's refuse was dumped and burned. Gehenna was employed as a metaphorical depiction of Hell in Mark 9:47:
And if your eye subverts you, pluck it out, for is better for you that you should enter the Kingdom of God with one eye than having two eyes that you should fall into the Gehenna of fire.
Dante's 'Inferno' Introduced Hell As An Underground Pit Of Torment
Inferno, part of Dante's epic poem TheDivine Comedy, solidified Western culture's modern perceptions of Hell. Dante can likely be credited with the notion of Hell as an underground abyss, as his nine Circles of Hell reflect the most abysmal sins of humanity in descending order.
The punishments Dante describes are similar to, if not more imaginative than, those of modern conception: souls are blinded, forced to fight one another for all of eternity, or torn apart by wild beasts. The most notable difference between Inferno and the modern understanding of Hell, however, is the frozen lake in which Inferno's Devil resides.
The Gospel Of Nicodemus Portrays Hell As A Purgatory For The Righteous
The apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus details Christ breaking into Hell following his crucifixion. Christ frees those in Hell who are "awaiting their redeemer," likening Hell to a waiting room for God's children. Hell's righteous inhabitants seemingly spend their time readying themselves for God's return.
The Apocalypse Of Peter Incorporated Pagan Imagery Into Christianity's Hell
The Apocalypse of Peter, written by a man claiming to be the Apostle Peter himself, consists of a conversation between himself and Jesus regarding the end of the world. The Apocalypse of Peter details the eternal torment the sinful will experience upon reaching the afterlife.
The text allegedly drew from Orphic and Pythagorean religious writings, incorporating pagan imagery into the Christian concept of Hell.
Early Christian Texts May Have Placed Hell In The Sky
While Hell is typically thought to reside deep beneath the Earth, some early Christian texts refer to a Hell located in the "upper atmosphere." Others place it in the middle of the Earth, its entrance marked by caves or volcanic fissures.
Other geographies mapping out Hell's fiery lakes and demon-filled caverns originate from folklore, gospels, and classical writings.
In Medieval Notions Of Hell, Children Watched Or Inflicted Their Parents' Punishments
During Europe's medieval era, Hell was widely thought to incorporate fire and torment. Alice K. Turner's 1993 book The History of Hell details differing views of the underworld throughout history. She writes that in medieval conceptions of Hell, "Aborted children blind their mothers with fire; abused children watch their parents mangled by wild beasts," both of which point to Hell's punishments being largely centered around families and family values.
In the book, Turner also compares medieval Hell to a horror film: Images of the underworld from the time often involve half-clothed men and women posing in suggestive positions at the Devil's mercy, leading Turner to liken medieval portrayals of Hell to light-handed adult entertainment.
