Ancient Greek philosophers developed some of the earliest theories about the soul, known as the psyche, shaping Western thought for centuries. Early beliefs saw the soul as a life force that left the body at death, often traveling to the underworld ruled by Hades.

Philosophers like Plato viewed the soul as immortal and divided into three parts: reason, spirit, and appetite. According to Plato, the soul existed before birth and sought to return to the world of perfect forms after death. Moral behavior helped purify the soul and free it from the cycle of rebirth.

Aristotle, on the other hand, believed the soul was inseparable from the body. He categorized souls into three types: vegetative (plants), sensitive (animals), and rational (humans). For Aristotle, the soul was the essence of living beings rather than an independent entity.

Mystery religions, such as Orphism, emphasized purification rituals and promised a blessed afterlife for followers. These ideas influenced later religious concepts of heaven, judgment, and salvation.

Greek debates about the soul shaped philosophy, psychology, and religious thought, forming the foundation for later Christian and Islamic ideas about human existence.