The question of what becomes of the wicked has long shaped Western religious imagination. The Formation of Hell traces the origins and development of the idea of hell from ancient Mediterranean cultures through early Christianity. Alan E. Bernstein explores how beliefs about punishment, exile from God, fire, darkness, and suffering emerged over centuries before and after the birth of Christ, drawing on a wide range of sources including ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Greek, Roman, Hebrew and early Christian texts. Through comparative readings of mythology, folklore, philosophy and theology, Bernstein shows how diverse traditions contributed to the evolving image of hell and how these ideas influenced religious thought about death, justice, retribution and the afterlife. This compelling study illuminates a central concept in Western culture and will captivate readers interested in history, religion, mythology, literature, psychology and philosophy.