Crossword Genius

Place that was hellish before getting public transport (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

erebus

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'place that was hellish' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how they can define each other.

'before getting public transport' is the wordplay.
'before' becomes 'ere' (poetic term).
'getting' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'public transport' becomes 'bus' (bus is a kind of public transport).
'ere'+'bus'='EREBUS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for erebus that I've seen before include "It's hellish dark" , "Volcanic mountain in Antarctica" , "In place of darkness" , "Mt. -, Antarctic volcano; be sure (anag.)" , "Sure, be in the underworld" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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