harrowings of hell
katabasis (n.) “descent”; often referring to a descent into the underworld, or the realm of the dead.
created by ruiconteur
last updated April, 2026
Comments
I feel lowkey called out with my new obsession with Inferno and Hozier and all... perfect timing for this perfect list 🙂↕️🙂↕️
mood lmfao 🙂↕️ i created this list bc i wrote almost a quarter of my thesis on lúthien's harrowing of hell, so really i'm calling myself out too
Oh wow, impressive! I haven't moved towards the rest of Tolkien's Canon but I swear at some point I will😭 especially now that I know it's got sth to do with hell🤭
the tale of beren and lúthien is inspired by orpheus's katabasis! it's pretty fun, and the harrowing of hell aspect actually appears twice, though the first version of it is more inspired by a medieval english legend lol
Whaaat omggg more of my interests overlapping ...🤯 you're really selling this book to me ngl🤭🙂↕️
i definitely recommend!! i've actually only read the version of beren and lúthien's story that's in the silmarillion so far, but there's some really wild stuff that happens in it. also idk if you're interested in medieval lit too, but tolkien was influenced by sir orfeo as well, which is itself a middle english retelling of the orpheus-legend lmao
I really haven't read any medieval literature but I'm always happy to fall into an obscure rabbit hole just based on the fact i told someone I like Hozier hehe will look up sir Orfeo!
oooh if i may, sir orfeo is specifically a breton lay/lai, and no introduction to breton lais is complete without some of marie de france's lais (i highly recommend bisclavret for all the werewolfism and shenaniganery, i had such a great time with it)
Ok ok I'm sorry but whay is a lay/lai? Pls explain haha, I'm interested but a bit confused😭
oooooooooooo what a fascinating theme! love itttt
ty!! i'm honestly surprised no one's made a list about this considering how much hype there is over rfk's katabasis
