The Classics have alot of stories about their young heroes going to the otherworld. Some would say that the reasons are different, but most feature monsters, lords, and lost friends. In contrast to bible quotes, Classic stories include a various traditions and serve more as morality testimonies and less to attempting to relay reality. Most cannot agree how the Classics thoughts about their stories, we do know that they held them in high regard.
Here is a tale about Hercules. Hercules had twelve tasks that he must perform. the twelfth was the most dangerous of all. A lord commanded that he should travel down to the otherworld and grab the dog creature, Cerberus. Cerberus was a dog-like beast that guarded the entrance to Hades. It had 3 dog heads, a long snake like tail, and snaky heads up and down its back. This is sort of similar to the bible quotes which illustrate things inside the prophetic books. But is would be noted that those quotes are prophetic in nature and not to be taken literally. They are word pictures.
Hercules decided that he should travel to Eleusis and seek out Eumolpus, a priest who began the Eleusinian Mysteries. Those rites were mysterious rites that explained the stories of Persephone and Demeter, Persephone being the Mistress of the Otherworld. The great thing about the rites is that those who knew them would find joy in the Underworld. Our hero was initiated into the mysteries.
Down a long, deep, rocky cave went the hero of the story. Hercules met up with Hades and politely asked about the doggy like animal. Hades said that Hercules could take the creature, but only if he used nothing but his bare hands to subdue the creature. He went to find the creature. In close proximity to the gateway, Hercules happened by the animal. Our young hero battled the horrible dog like creature to the rocky surface of the cave. A snake from the dog bit at our protagonist, but to no avail. The animal did surrender to our hero and he drug him to the surface. Afterward, the animal was let go back to Hell where he still is to this very day.
Thus the tale tells of a hero that set out to complete a task and does so with his mighty strength. Bible quotes also describe a young man together with mighty strength, Samson. Unlike Hercules, Samson’s exploits are all done in the real world and the feats are natural with supernatural assistance. The Biblical account feels more historic and the Greek myth feels more akin to a story. The Greek tale is more of a story that has a message to it, but nothing to be taken as a historical fact.