Purgatory in Spanish Folklore: The Night of the Ánimas
In rural Spain, the night still belongs to the ánimas, the spirits of the dead who didn’t go straight to Heaven or Hell.
Author: Maria J. Pérez Cuervo
Maria J. Pérez Cuervo is a Bristol-based journalist and writer who specialises in history, archaeology, myth and mystery. Visit Maria’s website.
The Winged Demoness of Death: Vanth and the Etruscan Underworld
On the walls of a 300 BCE Etruscan tomb, Vanth, a winged demoness of dark and stern gaze, flanks a door to the Great Unknown.
A Coin for the Ferryman: Charon and the Journey to Hades
There was a time when the living covered the mouths of their dead with a single coin before their final goodbye.