Dark Fire: Dimensions of Luminosity in the Chthonic

Abstract

This paper is an exploration of the light and darkness that exists in chthonic space, beginning with an analysis of early Western mythology, notably the Sumerian myth The Descent of Inanna. We examine how, for ancient cultures, the descent into the darkness of the Underworld maintained the homeostasis of the cosmos, enabling the continuation of the cycles of nature and the fertility of the land. The premise that the world of fire below the earth is a crucial polarity (and mirror) to the sky above is examined, and, using myths and fairy tales as a navigational tool, I explore the Jungian idea that what is exiled turns into a monster, the below transforming over time into ‘hell’ and ancient deities becoming demons and witches.