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Fanon Alert! This article contains tribute art, spin-off fiction, theories, reference and community material created by fans inspired by the show. It is by definition non-canon, but generally distinct from intentionally fake hoaxes or humorous fan parody material.

Given the number of references to Greek mythology, including Cerberus, Penelope, Apollo candy bar, and others, the high concept for Lost may be that the Island is the physical location of the mythical Gates of Hades, separating the living world from the world of the dead. Magnus Hanso may have discovered the gate and left a record, later discovered by his descendant Alvar Hanso, who set out to investigate the phenomenon, in an effort to master death itself. This is the true purpose of the Dharma Initiative. Numerous mysteries of the Island could be tied to outbreaks of energy between the dead world and the living, or interactions by the living with the dead.

Pros

• Explains the Whispers, which often feature voices of the dead.
• Explains the appearances of dead persons such as Christian Shephard, Yemi and Boone Carlyle, in person and in dreams.
• Explains the Monster, which is literally Cerberus.
• Suggests an alternative theory for what the incident was -- some kind of contact with the dead by technological means.
• Explains the need for quarantine.
• May explain miracles and tribulations since Hades was the catch-all afterlife with rewards and punishments and a god that liked to toy with the locals.
• Difficult comings and goings:
  • Persephone was trapped in the underworld for part of the year because she ate pomegranate seeds. The food of the undead bound her to Hades.
  • Orpheus snuck in past Charon and Cerebus but could not leave with his wife.
  • Psyche had to be aided by nature and spirits to enter Hades.

Cons

• Suggests that much of the plotline, namely anything that details activities of the Others, is essentially a sidestory, or a sequel to a complex series of events as yet unrevealed. This is intentional on the part of the theory author.
• Glosses over the specific miracles, such as Locke being able to walk, and specific properties of the Island, such as not being able to leave.
• Does not explain the mechanical sounds heard in connection with the Monster, though these sounds may be a red herring.
• If the reason for the difficulty of leaving involves the Island's nature as the Gates of Hades, then why would a submarine, regardless of its technical advancement, be able to come and go?
• If this is the gates of Hades where are the Greek gods?
  • The Greek gods would be unlikely to leave a significant group of attractive women (such as Kate) unmolested for any length of time, as they are notoriously lascivious.
• Does not explain the issue of death during childbirth.
• If Jacob is a ghost, how did he escape from Hades?
  • Where is the river Styx?
    • It is possible that this is the represented by the ring of ash surrounding Jacob's cabin.
  • Maybe rather than a ghost, Jacob is in fact the god of the dead