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The Elysian Writings

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The Elysian Writings

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The Elysian writings by Virgil describe the world of Elysium and its inhabitants. Among other things, this world has its own sun, stars, and perpetual spring. In addition, there are shady groves, crystal streams, and no fixed location. In the Odyssey, a character named Aeneas meets the god Anchises in Elysium.

In Greek mythology, Elysium is a paradise for immortal heroes, probably a remnant from the Minoan world. The Elysian Plain and the Isles of the Blessed describe a state of perfect happiness. However, Homer says immortality is only for those who are favored by the gods. Hesiod and Pindar later changed the myth and described Elysium as a paradise for the righteous and the blessed.

The name Elysium is a pagan term for paradise, but it was used by early Christian writers as well. A god named Anchises reached out his shade to the greatest muse in Elysium. The heroic populace of Elysium outweighed the dreary pagan reputation. Today, the name Champs-Elysees is still used, although it was initially applied to a rural area outside of the Tuileries and parterre gardens.