Taenarum
Laconian place identified as the mouth of descent to Hades in the Heracles account.
Overview
In Pseudo-Apollodorus’ Cerberus labour, Taenarum is a Laconian place identified as the mouth of a descent to Hades. After purification and initiation, Heracles comes there and enters the realm of the dead through the opening. This location belongs to that mythographer’s heroic route and should not be assigned to Odysseus, who sails to Ocean’s edge and summons shades in Odyssey 11 rather than walking below through Taenarum.
Relationships
- Heraclesdescends through
Pseudo-Apollodorus has Heracles enter Hades through the opening at Taenarum.
Story appearances
- Gates of the UnderworldEntrance to Hades in the later Heracles account
Entrance to Hades in the later Heracles account, part of the Underworld story's crossings, losses, judgments or guarded spaces.
- The Labours of HeraclesTaenarum in the Labours
Taenarum enters this story through Heracles' labours; when other stories return to the figure, they follow that later setting.
Ancient sources
MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.