Charon
Charon was the grim ferryman who carried the souls of the dead across the river Styx into the underworld — but only if they had been properly buried with a coin for his fare.
The Myth of Charon
Charon stood at his ferry on the river Styx, a gaunt, unkempt old man with fiery eyes. He carried the dead across to Hades's realm, but only those who had received proper burial and placed an obol coin under their tongue. The unburied were condemned to wander the banks for a hundred years. In the Odyssey, Odysseus saw the pitiful shades crowding the shore. When Heracles descended to capture Cerberus for his twelfth labour, he bullied Charon into ferrying a living man — for which Hades punished the boatman with a year in chains. Aeneas crossed with the Sibyl's help, carrying a golden bough. Orpheus charmed Charon with his lyre when he descended to reclaim Eurydice from Persephone and Hades.
Parents
Erebus and Nyx
Symbols
Fun Fact
Greeks placed coins in the mouths of their dead for over a thousand years — archaeologists still find them in graves.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Charon
⚡ goddeath
Ferryman of the dead who transported souls across the river Styx in exchange for a coin placed under the tongue of the deceased.
Hades
⚡ godKing of the underworld, god of the dead and riches
Ruler of the underworld and lord of the dead. Despite his fearsome reputation, Hades was not evil — he was stern, just, and rarely left his dark kingdom.
Hermes Psychopompos
⚡ godGuide of souls to the underworld
In his role as Psychopompos, Hermes escorted the souls of the dead to the underworld — the only Olympian who moved freely between all three realms.
Hades
⚡ godGod of the dead and lord of the underworld
Hades was the lord of the underworld who received the dead — feared but not evil, wealthy from earth's minerals, and far more just than his brothers.
Styx
🏛 placeThe river of the underworld
The great river that formed the boundary between the world of the living and the realm of the dead. Oaths sworn on the Styx were absolutely binding, even for gods.
Hades
⚡ godKing of the dead
The ruler of the Underworld who received the dead, guarded by Cerberus and feared so deeply that Greeks avoided speaking his name.
Hermes
⚡ godMessenger of the gods, commerce, thieves, travelers, boundaries
The swift messenger of the gods and guide of souls to the underworld. Hermes was the cleverest of the Olympians, patron of merchants and thieves alike.
Underworld
🏛 placeRealm of the dead
The Underworld was the vast subterranean realm where all mortal souls went after death — a geography of rivers, fields, and judges more detailed than any other mythological afterlife.
Acheron River
🏛 placeUnderworld geography
The river of woe in the Greek underworld across which the dead were ferried by Charon
Hermes
⚡ godGod of travellers, thieves, and communication
Hermes was the messenger god, guide of souls, patron of travellers and thieves — the most versatile and likeable Olympian, born cunning.
Aeacus
🗡 heroJudge of the dead, grandfather of Achilles
Aeacus was the most pious mortal of his age, whose prayers could end drought and whose justice earned him the role of judge of the dead.
God of the Underworld
💭 conceptDeath, the dead, underground riches
Hades governs the realm of the dead, ruling over every soul that crosses the river Styx.