Author: Marco Fortis

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Lacus Curtius

Rome is one of the most beautiful, cultural and historically significant cities in the world. It’s no wonder that there’s an alleged gateway to the underworld, Lacus Curtius, hiding amongst its ancient ruins.

After fully immersing ourselves into the world of ancient Rome we went on a mission to find this gateway. Down crumbling steps and past temples, houses and other buildings that suited the earthly delights of the Roman forum, we searched every corner for the legendary Lacus Curtius.

Although its origins are uncertain, each legend tells of a hole that went straight into the underworld. Whether it’s a tale of noble sacrifice, violent battle or just some freak weather over a bog we can all be grateful that this gateway to Hades has been dutifully covered by a piece of stone. Our souls are safe, for now.

The thing is, if you are looking for a stone slab on the floor in the Roman forum with no more than a photo to guide you, make sure you bring snacks and water because you’ll be there for a while.

After looking around grand structures and ominous outhouses that would have been more suited to a gateway, we found it.

The only sign that this is the gateway you are looking for is the carving that depicts a soldier, shield at the ready, riding his horse in a downward direction. The noble warrior, Marcus Curtius, riding fearless into the underworld to save the Roman Empire.

Lacus Curtius is an unassuming space nestled amongst grand architecture and more spectacular ruins. There’s no need for it to be anything more, considering what may hide beneath it.

 

 

More information on Lacus Curtius can be found here:

http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/lacus-curtius

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Antro Della Sibilla

Around the world there are many entrances to the underworld. Most of these relate to ancient myths and local folklore which have since dissolved into nothing more than memories and places where ‘weirdos’ seek out. Fortunately, I am one of those weirdos.

In 2015 Abby and I went on a tour of Italy. After a few days around the Amalfi Coast, we were due to head back up north. On our last night looking at Mount Vesuvious, I knew that there was something more sinister lurking across the Bay of Naples.

On our way to Rome, I convinced Abby that we should swing by Lago d’Averno and the cave of Sibyl. After all, it’s not every day you’re in the same neck of the woods where Aeneas and Odysseus entered the underworld.

We were to cross the Phlegraean Fields, which I could only imagine included exploding geysers and streams of hot lava, and arrive at the fabled lake where birds cannot sing. We’d have a peak into the underworld, maybe high five a minotaur, and be on our way to the cave the housed an oracle for a millennium. The journey was not so easy.

Instead of the fields of Hades we found ourselves driving towards a boot fair. The closest we got to the heat of the underworld were fumes of traffic in a long, stifling tunnel. We caught a glimpse of the lake but were being drawn to the cave instead.

There was a peace at the cave. Not many tourists, not much life. Just a cool breeze and a sense of ancient significance. Trees populated the area. Presumably, they would have been the same ones that the Cumaen Sibyl wrote her prophesies on. If the wind blew them away, they would be lost forever.

The cave itself was cordoned off but it did not detract from the moment. It was a sanctuary from the madness of the seaside resort below. We absorbed the atmosphere and looked deep into the darkness beyond the stone doorway. It was modest, ancient and could easily have opened the way into the abyss.

As we stared a breeze carried dead leaves across the ground. More prophesies were forgotten and we had looked straight into the underworld.

 

 

Find out more here:

http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cave-of-the-sibyl-antro-della-sibilla

 

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Nechronicles: Circus Extravagansicus

Laughter is good for the soul, so where are the clowns?

Purchase your copy now!

The Circus is coming to Necropolis and it will be bigger and louder than ever before. Or so General Pip Rickett hopes. Paulo Puck, the previous Ring Leader, met his Judgement before the last tour finished. Circus Extravagansicus has never reached a successful finale. The company need to see the final curtain fall. General Pip Rickett has some very large shoes to fill and the clown who owns them has disappeared into the Necropolitan night. But before any work can get done, General Pip Rickett needs to discover what it really means to be a resident of the City by the Styx.

Drum roll, please.

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Nechronicles: Exodus

Necropolis is a city like no other, built into a valley on the banks of the mighty River Styx. Generations of departed souls have set up home in the underworld while they await their final Judgement. However the process has been slowed. Centuries have passed and the souls of mortals in the Overworld have clouded. It is not simply a case of ‘Good’ and ‘Bad’ anymore.

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Edwin Tinker may know the reason. He was one of the first men to question the afterlife and has been stuck in Necropolis for over 300 years. Dimonis, the Chief of the bull-headed Minotillary will stop at nothing until Edwin is under his control. He believes that once Edwin is Judged and in the fiery pits of Tartarus where he belongs then normal Judgement will resume. The worlds can continue as the creator intended. Destinies will come true.

Nechronicles: Exodus is the first part in a new book series aimed at anyone who expects to pass on to the next mortal plane. Inspired by mythology from around the world, most notably Greek, Norse and Roman, Nechronicles will please both heroes and gods alike.

Myths, monsters and mankind will collide.