An Atlas of Afterlives Discover Underworlds, Otherworlds and Heavenly Realms

by Hawkins, Emily; Rojanaphan, Manasawee

• ISBN13: 9780711280861
• ISBN10: 071128086X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2023-09-05
• Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions

Summary

What happens after we die? This difficult question has fascinated people for thousands of years.

An Atlas of Afterlives sets out to explore and explain the many underworlds, otherworlds, heavens and hells believed in by cultures from across the world, throughout history. From paradise gardens to fiery kingdoms, from shadowy isles of the dead to ghostly galleons on an eternal voyage, these visions of eternity are fascinating examples of human creativity and storytelling.

Organised by continent, this book will take you on an eerie journey to discover legendary places from different mythologies. Each lavishly illustrated spread invites you into a different realm of the dead, with deities, demons and other details drawn from historical sources ranging from ancient Egyptian scrolls to Chilean folklore. With wonder, curiosity and sensitivity, every one of these awe-inspiring places is presented in its cultural context, combining real, historical fact with the magical atmosphere of the unknown – and unknowable.

Discover afterlives from all over the world, including:

• The gloomy kingdom of Hades, ancient Greek god of the dead
• Valhalla, mead hall of fallen Norse heroes
• Duat, ancient Egyptian River of Death
• Jannah, the beautiful Islamic garden of heaven 
• Kakuriyo, the invisible realm of spirits in Japanese Shinto beliefs
• The Gates of Guinee, the Voudou portal said to be hidden in New Orleans
• The Lakota Trail of Spirits in the Milky Way
• Kibu, island of ghosts to the Torres Strait Islanders of Australia
• Many, many more.

With stories, histories and mapsto get lost in, An Atlas of Afterlives is a truly unforgettable departure from our everyday lives into the depths of world mythology, exploring a fundamental question in an accessible, respectful and totally unique way. This lavish volume will fire the imaginations of curious explorers aged 9-12 keen for a glimpse of what lies beyond.

Author Biography

Once a children’s book editor, Emily Hawkins is now a full-time author. Her work has been featured on the New York Times bestseller list (Oceanology, 2009) as well as winning the Children’s Travel Book of the Year Award (Atlas of Animal Adventures, 2016). Along with her background in children’s non-fiction Emily has a strong interest in myth, folklore and storytelling. In 2020 she wrote A Natural History of Fairies, which has been translated into twelve languages, selling more than 100,000 copies worldwide. Emily holds a first-class English degree from Nottingham University, and lives in Winchester, UK.

MANASAWii is an artist and illustrator from Thailand, based in Bangkok. Her artworks are inspired by her own experiences, drawn from literature, and sometimes her dreams and imagination. Working with diverse mediums such as graphite drawing, acrylic painting, printmaking, and digital techniques, she chooses to present these ideas in the form of a parallel world, one that includes strange creatures, an extraordinary atmosphere or fantastic situations that are impossible to imagine happening in real life. She has worked with Fullstop Publishing, Alipay, Muzik Move, Welearn Publishing and Wide Eyed Editions.​

Manasawii is an artist and illustrator from Thailand, based in Bangkok. The ideas that exist in her artworks are inspired by her own experiences, drawn from literature, and sometimes her dreams and imagination.​ She chooses to present these ideas in the form of a parallel world, one that includes strange creatures, an extraordinary atmosphere or fantastic situations. She has worked with Fullstop Publishing, Alipay, Muzik move and Welearn Publishing. She works with diverse mediums such as graphite drawing, acrylic painting, printmaking, and digital.​

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION
EUROPE
Hades The Ancient Greek Underworld
Valhalla Hall of the Slain
Vyraj Paradise Garden Beyond the Rising Sun
Jacob’s Ladder Stairway to the Christian Heaven
The Gates of Hell Fiery Portal to the Medieval Underworld
The Otherworld Dreamlike Fairyland from Celtic Myths
The Bag Noz Ghostly Ship of Souls
The Wild Hunt Phantom Riders of the Night
AFRICA
Duat The Ancient Egyptian Underworld
The Kalunga Line Boundary Between Worlds
The Zulu Underworld Uncama’s Adventures in Underland
Asamando Ashanti Land of the Dead
ASIA
Irkalla The First Underworld
Uçmag and Tamag Above and Below
Jannah Islamic Paradise Garden
Svarga Among the Seven Heavens
The Buddhist Underworld Home of Yama, God of Death
The Terracotta Army Guardians for the Afterlife
The Chinvat Bridge Perilous Route to Heaven
Kakuriyo Hidden World of Spirits
NORTH AMERICA
The Trail of Spirits Skyway Through the Stars
Kothluwalawa Dance-hall of the Dead
Adlivun Watery Underworld of the Inuit People
The Gates of Guinee Portal to the Voudou Underworld
Mictlan The Aztec Underworld
CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA
Xibalba The Maya Underworld
El Caleuche Enchanted Ship of the Dead
Hedu The Yanomami Heaven
Three Pachas The Worlds of the Incas
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
Kibu Island of Ghosts
Hiyoyoa Underwater Gardens of the Dead
Lua-o-Milu The Hawaiian Land of the Dead
AFTERWORD
GLOSSARY and BOOKS THAT HAVE INSPIRED US
INDEX