#hell gates

This is an urban legend known as the Seven Gates of Hell, and is one of the most famous haunting America. But Hellam Township’s tale of terror is actually two-sided.

According to historical records, there was no asylum on Old Trout Road. But we do know that there was a doctor that lived on the plot of land homing dark, thick woodland.  And he might have been the very same doctor that features in the other origins story of the urban legend.

The story goes that a local doctor moves out to the country, opting for a rural, wooded location secluded from irritating patients and an overbearing receptionist. But the peace and serenity of his sheltered home soon becomes a stunning silence which is then drowned out by his growing madness.

Maybe he skips the small talk in the waiting room, perhaps his medical practice becomes more unethical. Either way, he is driven so far into his own insanity that he builds seven gates along a path in the forest near his house, birthing the urban legend still shared today.

So we know this is the most famous set of gates to hell, but before we get to the next stop on our roadtrip, we should probably know what they actually are.

A Brief History Of The Gates To Hell

Since the beginning of time, humans have pondered about the afterlife and the potential forms it might take. And just as much as they have imagined what glorious and grotesque locations they could be, they also wondered whether us mere mortals could see and access them from earth itself.

The intrigue in accessing the underworld was first spun by ancient religious texts, local myths, and national legends that mentioned the locations themselves or described the process of accessing what lies beyond via them. And some of these locations can still be found today.

Whether they’re the revolving doors to Satan’s lair is up to you.

The locations famous for supposedly containing a convenient doorway to the underworld often share a number of features:

They tend to have a lot of unusual geological activity that the locals historically were unable to explain. Incredible lakes, huge cave networks, and vast mountains make for rather scenic visits on your tour to hell.

Sure, each religion has its own take on the afterlife and thus their own instructions on accessing it, but they typically lead us to similar locations that are brimming with mystery.

It’s for this reason that a number of artworks - including The Gates of Hell (late 19th century) - attempted to materialise what was set out in sacred texts. But on another level, references to the gates of hell could refer to something more metaphorical.

In fact, that’s how Jesus’ use of the term is considered today.

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Matthew 16:18

Scripture uses the terms ‘gates of hell’ to refer to one’s personal entrance to hell via the sinful acts one commits. No, you don’t creeaaak open a heavy door and scuttle through to the underworld below; what you do is your entrance to hell.

Interestingly enough, however, the metaphor itself probably comes from the significance of city and town walls. The walls and gates of a location represented the power that it had. City walls would be armed, tall, great, and powerful, and thus hell’s gates would too represent what lay behind them.

Yet aside from the metaphor of the gates of hell are the rumours of their physical existence which has inspired today’s post. Just as we mortals have a connection with spirits from other realms, we might just have access to where they come from, too.

Now Who Wants To Explore Them From The Safety Of Their Device?

*Hits play on roadtrip mix*

(*Yes, the first song is Highway To Hell*)

#1 - Hekla, Iceland

Landmarks crammed full of geological activity are the most popular contenders for homing the gates of hell. And by that logic, Iceland is a cesspit of doom. You can’t sneeze without setting off a volcano and crippling air traffic for 7 and a half months.

This stratavolcano is one of the most active on the small island, with 20 eruptions taking place in the last 1200 years. And it was this reputation that earnt its label for the ‘Gateway to Hell’ in the middle ages.

It’s fiery, lava-filled fissure which can be blamed for most of its eruptions was an obvious comparison to the burning inferno we hear about in the bible. After the eruption of 1104, many monks spread rumours that is was indeed a gateway to the underworld.

“The renowned fiery cauldron of Sicily, which men call Hell's chimney ... that cauldron is affirmed to be like a small furnace compared to this enormous inferno.”

- Herbert of Clairvaux, 1180

Gossip gained further momentum in 1341 when birds were witnessed soaring towards and into the fiery depths of the active volcano; they believed the birds were the souls that were going to hell.

Although such beliefs dissipated after the 19th century, it is still rumoured that witches attend the volcano at Easter in order to meet their almighty ruler, Satan himself.

#2 - Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave, Belize

We now swap a Christian take on hell for the Mayan underworld. This network of caves might not lead to the realm of the dead, but it’s full of enough corpses to at least convey the ambience of it.

According to Maya mythology his deep crevice was full of rivers running with blood and scorpions (take your pick, I guess) and was considered the court of the demons for the underworld. They would use this sacred chamber to decide the fates of us mortals.

Now brimming with skeletons, ceramics, and stoneware, historians believe witches were often sacrificed here in order to trap their souls in the underworld forever.

(And ever...)

It’s most famous corpse, however, is the Crystal Maiden, an 18 year old sacrifice victim that has been bejewelled with calcite and now shimmers underneath the glow of a tourist’s flashlight

What’s really interesting about this location, however, has to be the difficult access to it. One must swim through a river and then wade for a kilometre to the network of caves itself. And when you’ve survived that bit, then you have to fight off predatory spiders and dodge a local community of sacrifices.

Who knew accessing a gateway to hell was going to be, like, hard?

#3 - Gates of Guinee, USA

So hunting down a cave deep in Belize isn’t for you? A trip round New Orleans and it’s deep-rooted history of Voodoo is probably an easier option.

Just head on over to the French Quarter and you should eventually come across the Gates of Guinee, the entrance to the underworld spirits must pass through. From there they go to the ‘deep waters’ for a reunion with their ancestors.

But before you meet Baron Samedi, the bloke overseeing this whole process, you need to find the gates themselves. Just like the urban legend in Pennsylvania, there are 7 gates one must pass through to pass over and, according to Voodoo practice, this represents the seven days it takes for the spirit to detach from the corpse.

The seven gates are rumoured to be dotted around the cemeteries surrounding Canal Street, an area known affectionately as the City of The Dead. Lists of the locations of the gates and the guards in front of each one have been compiled over the years, but the process must be done in the right order. Going through the wrong gate at the wrong time can allow spirits to seep through into the mortal realm.

If you do want to try your hand at visiting Baron Samedi himself, it is best to wait for an annual holiday, and give it a go then.

#4 - Pluto’s Gate, Turkey

I’ve already mentioned that most of these locations are written and recorded in ancient texts. But this one’s different. Sure, it got its name in the pages of ancient writers such as Strabo and Damascius (6th century AD), but until 1965 it was considered fictional.

First erected in 2nd BC, it was built on a cave that emits toxic gases, killing all wildlife that dare go near it. You can see when the hellish reputation came from.

Ritual animal sacrifices were often tossed to the offending cave and it was used as a ritual passage to the underworld. As the gases were lethal - seriously, birds would quite literally drop dead out of the sky - locals believed Pluto, god of the underworld, was sending the gas to the mortal realm.

And the priests of Cybele only furthered stirred rumours of its reputation.

They would descend into the Ploutonion, as it was known, crawl to the floor to the pockets of oxygen, and return to the clean air above to prove it indeed was a religious location and that the priests has supernatural powers over it.

It is believed an area of 2000 square metres stood in front of the entrance and was covered in a thick layer of lethal gas.

Yeah, it’s all just a bit deathy.

#5 - St Patrick’s Purgatory, Ireland

It’s one of the oldest and most challenging pilgrimages a Christian can complete - and its one of the most infamous, too.

Legend has it St Patrick was shown a cave (or a well or pit according to variance in the legend) by Christ himself in a vision on Station Island. The saint asked God for proof of his power to convince and then convert the locals.

What God showed him a pit in the ground which he called Purgatory.

According to reports from before 1632 - the year from which is was sealed - the entrance was only 2ft wide and 3ft high. Six steps followed before you entered a 9ft long cave and turned a corner to another 5ft cave. Archaeologists, although unable to actually excavate the location, have evidence it is indeed an ancient structure that exists.

But was more likely used to store crops than souls.

Pilgrimages took place from its discovery with fasting and penance as well as sitting in the actual cave being the main activities on the agenda. Although pilgrimages peaked in the middle ages as a place for forgiveness for criminals, they still take place today and are more of a place for spiritual healing rather than seeing a 4K Ultra-HD shot of the afterlife.

#6 - Cave of Sibyl, Italy

With 2000 years of history to its name this is the oldest recorded gateway to hell featuring in this post. Virgil was the guy that wrote about it, and he described a porous cave with hundreds of openings.

Virgil mentioned this cave in the Aeneid back in 19 BC when Aeneas, the leading man, encountered a mysterious fortune teller, AKA a sibyl.

This sibyl, however, was 700 years old and a guide to the underworld. And this tour guide whipped out her yellow umbrella to provide Aeneas with the advice of his father. She also featured in other notable works, such as Ovid.

The search for the cave began in the middle ages, but it was only discovered in 1932 and fit many of the descriptors laid out in the ancient texts, such as having numerous entrances.

But what’s really interesting is that this is just one of the locations in Southern Italy that is associated with the underworld; as a geologically active location, sulphur pits and strange gases mirror other factors associated with alleged entrances to hell.

#7 - Fengdu Ghost City, China

It’s thousands of years old, and it’s China’s biggest burial ground. This complex of shrines, monasteries, and temples is dedicated to the dead, but it’s also associated with the afterlife.

A local legend claims two imperial officers during the Eastern Han dynasty became immortal at this location. The combination of their names formed ‘Yinwang’ which can be translated to ‘King of Hell’.

What sets this location apart from other tourist spots on this list is that this isn’t somewhere mortals go to check out hell. This is where the dead are buried and then go to the afterlife.

Chinese beliefs state the dead must pass 3 tests before moving to the next life, which are neatly stationed in Fengdu. At each stage, demons allow or prevent passage - it is also here that evil spirits are pushed to the water below.

#8 - Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenistan

It’s one of the most famous contenders for being the gateway to Satan’s crib - but it’s the least likely to be. Heck, I wasn’t even sure it deserved a place in this post.

However, it is one of the most popular places associated with entrances to hell.

I’m not gonna lie, I can see the association of the burning bubbling fire pit with the fiery doom that is hell, but the Door to Hell, as it is also known, is more historical than hellish.

A natural gas field in Derweze collapsed into a cavern and created this huge swell of methane gas. So, local geologists came up with an idea:

They’d limit the spread by setting the gas on fire.

They said it’d take a couple of weeks and the burning could stop. 49 years later and the boiling mud and orange flames are still burning hot.

#9 - Mount Osore, Japan

We finish our *rooooadddtrrrrrrip* with possibly the most awesome potential gateway to the underworld. No, seriously, this one wins.

Hidden away in the Tohoku region of Japan is a Buddhist temple. This pilgrimage destination isn’t as peaceful nor as serene as the reputation for the religion itself; it is located in an active volcano and homes an acidic lake. It’s charred landscape, bubbling pits, and whiffy gases have confirmed its hellish aesthetic.

Add in a bubbling brook the dead’s souls’ must cross and we arrive at the afterlife.

But the thing I’m obsessed with is the itako. They are mediums who wander around the location, claiming to channel or summon the souls of the dead that are crossing the river into the afterlife, and they have been known to speak in the voices of the spirits themselves.

Traditionally the itako undergo intense spiritual training and purification and were blind, but these days few itako who have the ability to see exist.

Given the current state of the world, it wouldn’t surprise me if one of the gateways coughs, splutters, and swallows us all up.

Which gate to hell do you think is the most convincing? Let me know in a comment.

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