An abyss (Greek: a-, privative, bussos, bottom) is a bottomless depth; hence any deep place. The word is usually used to refer to a pit; to the deepest ocean floor; or to hell. Medieval illustration of Hell in the Hortus deliciarum manuscript of Herrad of Landsberg (about 1180) Hell, according to many religious beliefs, is a place or a state of pain and suffering. ...

From the late popular abyssimus (superlative of Low Latin abyssus) through the French abisme (i.e. abime) is derived the poetic form "abysm," pronounced as late as 1616 to rhyme with "time." It probably derives from the Sumerian Abzu (Akkadian = Apsu), meaning Deep Waters (Sumerian "Ab" = Water, "Zu" = Far). == {| align=right cellpadding=3 id=toc style=margin-left: 15px; |- | align=center colspan=2 | Years: 1613 1614 1615 - 1616 - 1617 1618 1619 |- | align=center colspan=2 | Decades: 1580s 1590s 1600s - 1610s - 1620s 1630s 1640s |- tall> 16th century - 17th century - 18th century |} randomised 1616 was a leap year starting on Friday... Chaldean mythology is the collective name given to Sumerian, Assyrian and Babylonian mythologies, although Chaldea did not comprehend the whole territory inhabited by those peoples. ... In Sumerian mythology Abzu or Apsu was the god of fresh water, also representing the primeval water and sometimes the cosmic abyss. ... Akkadian language city of Akkad or Agad Akkadian Empire Sargon of Akkad the Amarna letters and Amarna Letters EA 296(Yahtiru) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... In Sumerian mythology Abzu or Apsu was the god of fresh water, also representing the primeval water and sometimes the cosmic abyss. ...

In oceanography, the adjective abyssal is used to refer to the deepest extent of the sea: hence "abyssal zone," "abyssal flora and fauna," "abyssal sediment". The form abysmal is not widely used in this context. Thermohaline circulation Oceanography (from Ocean + Greek γράφειν = write), also called oceanology or marine science is the study of the Earths oceans and seas. ...

In heraldry, the abyss is the middle of an escutcheon. Heraldry in its most general sense encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms. ... The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom displayed an inescutcheon of the arms of Hanover between 1801 and 1837 when the British monarch held the title of King of Hanover. ...

In the Greek version of the Old Testament the word represents both the original chaos (Genesis i.2) and the Hebrew tehom ("a surging water-deep"), which is used also in apocalyptic and kabbalistic literature and in the New Testament for hell; the place of punishment; in the Revised (not the Authorized) version of the Bible "abyss" is generally used for this idea. Primarily in the Septuagint cosmography the word is applied both to the waters under the earth which originally covered it, and from which the springs and rivers are supplied and to the waters of the firmament which were regarded as closely connected with those below. Note: Judaism commonly uses the term Tanakh. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Religious Usage in the Bible Tehom is the first of seven Infernal Habitations that correspond to the ten Qliphoth (literally peels in Hebrew) of Jewish Kabbalic tradition. ... John 21:1 Jesus Appears to His Disciples--Alessandro Mantovani: the Vatican, Rome. ... The word Bible refers to the canonical collections of sacred writings of Judaism and Christianity. ... The Septuagint: A page from Codex vaticanus, the basis of Sir Lancelot Brentons English translation. ... Cosmography is the science that maps the general features of the universe; describes both heaven and earth (but without encroaching on geography or astronomy) A representation of the earth or the heavens. ...

Derivatively, from the general idea of depth, it acquired the meaning of the place of the dead, though apparently never quite the same as Sheol. In the book of Revelation it is the prison of evil spirits whence they may occasionally be let loose, and where Satan is doomed to spend 1000 years. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Visions of John of Patmos, as depicted in the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. ... Gustave Dorés depiction of Satan from John Miltons Paradise Lost Satan, from the Hebrew word for accuser (Standard Hebrew: , Satan Tiberian Hebrew ; Koine Greek: , Satanás; Aramaic: , ; Arabic: , , Slavic Сатана), is a term with its origins in the Abrahamic faiths which is traditionally applied to an angel. ...

Beneath the altar in the temple of Jerusalem there was believed to be a passage which led down to the abyss of the world, where the foundation-stone of the earth was laid. In rabbinical cosmography the abyss is a region of Gehenna situated below the ocean bed and divided into three or seven parts imposed one above the other. In the Kabbalah the abyss as the opening into the lower world is the abode of evil spirits, and corresponds to the opening of the abyss to the world above. In general the abyss is regarded vaguely as a place of indefinite extent, the abode of mystery and sorrow. Note: Tanach quotes are from the Judaica press Tanach. ...

See also

• Abyss of Dungeons & Dragons
• Tehom

In Dungeons & Dragons, the fantasy role-playing game, the Abyss or more fully, the Infinite Layers of the Abyss, is a chaotic evil-aligned plane of existence. ... For other uses, see Dungeons & Dragons (disambiguation). ... Religious Usage in the Bible Tehom is the first of seven Infernal Habitations that correspond to the ten Qliphoth (literally peels in Hebrew) of Jewish Kabbalic tradition. ...

External links

• JewishEncyclopedia.com - Abyss[1]