Tartarus: A Metaphysical Perspective

Tartarus: A Metaphysical Perspective

Tartarus is a term found in various ancient texts, notably the Septuagint (LXX) and the New Testament, carrying a range of meanings and metaphysical implications. Its usage in these writings reveals both the material and symbolic nature of this underworld realm, shedding light on both its literal and metaphysical significance. By examining its occurrences in scripture and other religious writings, we can gain a deeper understanding of how Tartarus was perceived in the ancient world and how it functions in theological discourse.

In the Septuagint (LXX) translation of Job, Tartarus is mentioned twice in reference to the deep and abyss. In Job 40:15 (40:20, LXX), concerning Behemoth, we read: "And when he has gone up to a steep mountain, he causes joy to the quadrupeds in the deep [ἐν τῷ Ταρτάρῳ (‘in the tartarus’)]" (Job 40:15). Here, Tartarus refers to a low or deep place, indicating a symbolic location of darkness and depth, a place where things are submerged or hidden from sight. Similarly, in Job 41:31-32 (41:23-24, LXX), concerning Leviathan, it states: "He makes the deep boil like a brazen caldron; and he regards the sea as a pot of ointment, and the lowest part of the deep [τὸν Τάρταρον τῆς ἀβύσσου (‘the tartarus of the abyss’)] as a captive: he reckons the deep as his range" (Job 41:31-32). Again, Tartarus is associated with the lowest or most inaccessible part of the abyss, symbolizing a place of profound mystery, chaos, and power beyond human understanding. This connection suggests that Tartarus in this context is not only a literal place but also a symbolic representation of the forces that govern the unseen, chaotic depths of the world.

In 2 Peter 2:4, the word Tartarus appears in the Greek form tartaroo ("For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell [τὰρτάρωσεν], putting them in gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment") (2 Peter 2:4). The term here is translated as "hell," but it refers specifically to a place of divine punishment reserved for the rebellious angels. This usage draws on Homeric mythology, where Tartarus is depicted as a sunless abyss, far beneath the Earth, where the Titans and other rebellious gods were imprisoned by Zeus. The apostle Peter employs this term to describe the fate of those angels who transgressed, emphasizing a place of confinement and awaiting judgment.

In 1 Enoch 20:1, the archangel Uriel is placed "in charge of the world and of Tartarus," signifying his role in overseeing not only the earthly realm but also the netherworld. "Tartarus" in this context is a realm under the control of divine beings, and its association with Uriel suggests that the place is not just a prison but also a locus of divine order.

The Gnostic texts also provide rich imagery surrounding Tartarus. In The Hypostasis of the Archons, the archangel Zoe (Life) breathes into the face of the rebellious Sakla (Yaldabaoth), and this angel binds him and casts him into "Tartaros below the abyss" (The Hypostasis of the Archons). Here, Tartarus is depicted as a cosmic prison for the divine rebel, a place of profound separation from the higher realms of light and knowledge. The notion of Tartarus as a realm beneath the abyss implies a metaphysical depth where souls or entities are separated from the divine source, representing a state of spiritual degradation and imprisonment.

Similarly, in The Book of Thomas the Contender, the savior speaks of one who will be "handed over to the ruler above who rules over all the powers as their king, and he will be cast from heaven down to the abyss, and he will be imprisoned in a narrow dark place." This narrow, dark place is described as the "great depth of Tartaros," symbolizing a state of profound separation from the divine, where the soul is trapped in a place of judgment, awaiting its ultimate fate (The Book of Thomas the Contender).

The Trimorphic Protennoia further elaborates on the nature of souls in Tartarus, stating: "I am the life of my Epinoia that dwells within every Power and every eternal movement... and every soul dwelling in Tartaros." Here, Tartaros is not only a physical realm but also a metaphysical state of spiritual imprisonment for souls who are detached from the divine Light. The soul in Tartarus is described as dwelling in sleep, an unconscious state from which it must awaken to return to the light and unity with the divine.

From a metaphysical perspective, Tartarus symbolizes not only a physical place of punishment but also a spiritual condition. It represents the depths of ignorance, rebellion, and separation from the divine source. In many texts, Tartarus is portrayed as a space where entities or souls are confined due to their actions, whether through transgression or spiritual blindness. The abyss or depth of Tartarus is not just a location but a state of being—spiritual darkness and alienation from divine wisdom and light. The metaphorical implications of Tartarus reflect the inner spiritual state of the soul: when one turns away from the divine or indulges in lower states of consciousness, they metaphorically descend into Tartarus. It is through spiritual awakening, as shown in various texts, that the soul can rise above this imprisonment and return to the light of knowledge and unity with the divine.

Thus, Tartarus, in its various ancient uses, conveys a profound metaphysical principle: the journey of the soul through light and darkness, imprisonment and liberation, reflecting the deeper spiritual realities of punishment, redemption, and the restoration of divine harmony.