Does Hell Really Exist?

Heaven and Hell - the two afterlife abodes waiting for us once we pass over. Will we be welcomed by haloed angels into the house of all that's good or be thrust into the cage that awaits us in the fiery depths of this universe?

Only time will decide. But will it?
While some claim heaven can be found on the earth, others are more than convinced that accessible gateways to hell actually exist! Throughout the chapters of history, one can find tales of legends that prove this even more strongly. Come, let's course through these.

1. The Mayan Cenotes

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The word 'cenote' is the translation of the Mayan word 'tz'onot' which means 'sacred well'. The Mayan Cenotes are the underlying waterways flowing across Central American and Mexico that were formed by corrosion of limestone rock by subterranean water. People believe that the cave is a gateway to the Mayan underworld called Xibalba.
Cenotes were used by the Mayans to make sacrificial offerings. Anyone who was suspected of witchcraft was thrown into the dark abyss of this place. One of the most recent discoveries made here was that of an 18-year-old 'Crystal Maiden' who was believed to have been sacrificed in a ritual to pacify the gods of the underworld.

2. The Masaya Volcano

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While the natives took the volcano to be an abode of a siren - who also doubled as a God - the Spanish travellers did indeed conclude that the volcano led to hell. In 1529, people held the opinion that the volcano was active with demonic activities when a priest named Francisco de Bobadilla actually hiked up to the 'hell mouth' of this portal to rid it of whatever monster it housed.

3. St Patrick's Purgatory

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Situated in Lough Derg, St Patrick's Purgatory was founded in the 15th century. The legend says that when it was visited by St Patrick, he was tormented by Jesus's visions of the torture he had experienced on the island. St Patrick was sent on a trail to a cave that housed a portal to purgatory. The saint saw a barrage of visions where he witnessed souls being punished before being led to heaven and hell.
The monastery, which is located on Station Island, became a rage among Catholic pilgrims who would throng here to pray and fast before shutting themselves in the cave for a full day. The monastery was eventually shut down in 1632 but today, a three-day pilgrimage is still being allowed.

4. The Acheron

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