The Elysium, also known as the Elysian Fields, is a place in Greek mythology which can only really be described

as paradise for the most deserving in the afterlife. Originally, the Elysium was a realm for only the mortals related to gods and the most deserving heroes, but over time it was developed by Greek religious and philosophical organisations to play home to those chosen by the gods, the righteous and the heroic in the afterlife too. Originally, the Elysium was a realm separate from the Underworld Hades (Greek God of the underworld) ruled over, but later the Elysium became part of Hades kingdom, and was the most blissful, heavenly place out of all the realms of the Underworld. Only the bravest of souls got there when they died, chosen by the gods. To get into the Elysium, the dead would have to pass over the River Styx, as they would to get to any other realm of the Underworld, ferried across by Charon the boatman. Which realm of the Underworld the dead would then enter would be decided by Hades and the judges, Rhadamanthus, Minos, Pluto and Aeacus. Aeacus was the relative judge to Elysium, as Minos was to Erebus, Rhadamanthus for Tartarus and Pluto for Proserpina. In some cases, Hades isnt seen as a god but the actual Underworld itself. In some classical literature pieces, it was believed that the Elysium was split into two parts: the White Island (also known as the Island of the Blessed) and a neverworld region. The White Island was reserved for heroes of myths, and was thought to be ruled over by a Titan king, though it was debated whether it was Cronos or Rhadamanthus. The neverworld region was where the initiates of Mysteries went if they had lived a virtuous life. If a soul earned entry in the neverworld region of Elysium several times over, it was thought that the Gods would allow them to be promoted to acceptance in the White Island to remain there for eternity. According to several tales in mythology, within Elysium fields of pale liliaceous asphodel and poplars (both flowers) grew, which was where the name Elysian Fields came from.

Interpretations to the exact details of Elysium varied from author to author in classical literature, with Homer describing it as to the Elysian plainwhere life is easiest for men. No snow is there, nor heavy storm, nor ever rain, but ever does Ocean send up blasts of the shrill-blowing West Wind that they may give cooling to men, in the Odyssey, and claiming that Elysium was located towards the Western edge of the Earth. In Hesiods Works and Days, he writes that Cronos/Cronus/Kronos ruled over Elysium, an idea also presented by poet Pindar in Odes, however, Homer wrote that it was Rhadamanthus who ruled over Elysium. Eustathius of Thessalonica wrote that the name Elysium () is derived from , which meant to be deeply stirred with joy.

Further reading: http://www.theoi.com/Kosmos/Elysion.html http://www.scribd.com/doc/41223447/Elysium http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/185418/Elysium