What were the shades in the underworld called?

The shades in the underworld were referred to as "Manes." In ancient Roman beliefs, the Manes were the spirits of the deceased, often thought to be protective spirits of the family. They were considered the souls of the ancestors and were honored in various rituals. The term suggests a sense of reverence and is associated with the idea of the dead watching over the living. This is an integral part of Roman funerary practices and beliefs in the afterlife.

"Elysium" refers to a paradise within the underworld where the virtuous and heroic souls would reside, so it does not encapsulate the general concept of shades. "Phantoms" and "Wraiths" are more modern terms often used in literature and folklore to describe spirits or ghosts, but they do not specifically refer to the Roman understanding of the shades in their mythology. Therefore, "Manes" is the most accurate term for the shades in the context of Roman traditions regarding the underworld.