As
ferryman of the
dead, it was Charon's
duty to transport
souls across the river
Styx for the price of an
obol, placed in the mouth of the
deceased at time of
burial. If the soul did not receive a
proper burial, or no
coin was placed, it was
condemned to wander the
shore for a hundred years before being allowed to
cross.
Some few souls were able to cross without
payment.
Orpheus charmed Charon with his
lyre,
Aeneas bribed him with a
golden bough, and
Herakles intimidated him into waiving the fee. For allowing Herakles to pass, Charon was chained to his
oar for a year by
Hades.
Charon is often said to be the son of
Erebus and
Styx.
As he came to be associated with
death in general, Charon lives on in
Greek folklore as
Charontas, the
Angel of Death.
Back to the
Family Tree of the Gods of Greek Mythology