Elysium - noun
An eternal paradise in ancient Greek mythology originally only for heroes and others granted immortality by the gods and later also for the blessed dead and those who lived a righteous life.
Otherwise known as the Elysian Fields (Ancient Greek: Ἠλύσιον πεδίον, Ēlýsion pedíon), Elysian Plains or Elysian Realm.
In Homer's Odyssey,
Elysium is described as an easy going place:
“… (men) live unlaborious days. Snow and tempest and thunderstorms never enter there …”
—Homer, Odyssey 4. 56o ff (trans. Shewring) (Greek epic C8th B.C.)
The ancient Greek lyric poet from Thebes, Pindar, wrote:
“ There round the Islands of the Blest (Nesoi Makaron), the winds of Okeanos (Oceanus) play, and golden blossoms burn, some nursed upon the waters, others on land on glorious trees; and woven on their hands are wreaths enchained and flowering crowns … “
— Pindar, Olympian Ode 2. 57 ff (trans. Conway) (Greek lyric C5th B.C.)
Proud Member and Student with IAAHPC