Elysium in Greek and Roman mythology, is the abode of the blessed. According to Homer, it lies in the mild sunlight, this side of Oceanus; whether it is an island or not is not mentioned. Hesiod speaks of islands of the blessed, where on the Oceanus river the heroes live in peace, and where the earth yearly brings forth three harvests of fruits. According to Pindar, the citadel, Kronos (Saturn), is on the islands of the blessed. Here cool, refreshing sea- breezes blow, gold-glittering flowers bloom on the trees, and along the springs. The heroes decorate their persons with them. They only reach this blessed abode who pass a threefold test in Hades and on earth by keeping themselves unstained by crimes. Besides Rhadamanthus, whom Kronos selected as his successor, Pindar mentions Peleus, Cadmus, and Achilles as being here. Virgil gives another description of the Elysium: "Laughing aether fills the fields with a purple light; a distinct sun and distinct stars shed their light upon them." AEneas there finds those who received wounds in battling for their country, priests who led a spotless life, sacred poets who sung the worth of Phoebus, discoverers who benefited mankind by their arts, etc.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More