Kharon (or Charon) was the ferryman of the dead, an underworld spirit in the service of Hades. He received the shades of the dead from Hermes, who gathered them from the upper world and guided them to the shores of the Akherousian mere. From there, Charon transported them in his boat to a final resting place in Hades, the land of the dead, on the other side. The fee for his service was a single obolos coin, which was placed in the mouth of a corpse at burial. Those who had not received the coin in burial and were unable to pay his fee would be left to wander the earthly side of the Akheron, haunting the upper world as ghosts.
Kharon was portrayed in a Greek vase painting as an ugly, bearded man with a crooked nose, wearing a conical hat and tunic. He was shown standing in his boat holding a pole, about to receive a shade from the psychopompian Hermes.
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Mythological Creatures
FantasyDo you know what an Ifrit is, or how Will-o'-the-Wisp attract people? Do you want to put a certain mythological creature in your story, but are confused on where to look it up? Well, you've come to the right place! "Mythological Creatures" will take...
