The Story of Charon
Charon was the ferryman of the dead in the Greek Underworld. He was usually called a son of Erebus, the darkness, and Nyx, the night. His job was to carry the souls of the newly dead across the river, usually named as the Acheron or the Styx, into the realm of Hades.
Charon would only carry souls who had been properly buried and who could pay their fare. For this reason, the Greeks often placed a small coin called an obol in or on the mouth of the dead. Souls who could not pay were said to wander the riverbank for a hundred years.
He was pictured as a grim, unfriendly figure, an old man with a scruffy beard and a dirty cloak, though early vase paintings show him more simply as a working boatman. Very few living people ever made the crossing. When Heracles came down to capture Cerberus, he forced Charon to take him across, and in one telling Charon spent a year in chains as punishment.
Other heroes found gentler ways. In Virgil's Aeneid, Charon refused to take the living Aeneas until the Sibyl of Cumae showed him the golden bough, a gift for Persephone. In the story of Psyche, she carried two coins in her mouth, one to pay Charon on the way down and one for the return trip.
Charon had no temples, but he was part of everyday Greek funeral customs. His image remained powerful in later times, and in modern Greek folklore Charos became a figure of death itself. One of the moons of the dwarf planet Pluto is named Charon after him.
Famous Myths About Charon
Heracles Crosses the River
When Heracles came down to the Underworld to capture Cerberus, he forced Charon to ferry him across the river. Charon was later punished by Hades and spent a year in chains for allowing a living man to cross.
Aeneas and the Golden Bough
When Aeneas came to the Underworld with the Sibyl of Cumae, Charon refused to take a living man in his boat. The Sibyl showed him the golden bough, a gift for Persephone, and Charon let them on board.
Psyche's Coins
Sent to the Underworld by Aphrodite, Psyche carried two coins in her mouth, one to pay Charon on the way down and one for the return trip. She obeyed every instruction and was able to complete her task and come back alive.
Charon's Family Tree
Partners of Charon
Children of Charon
Frequently Asked Questions About Charon
Who is Charon in Greek mythology?
Charon is the ferryman of the dead, who carries souls across the river to the underworld.
Why were the dead buried with a coin for Charon?
The Greeks placed a coin, called an obol, with the dead to pay Charon's fare. Souls who could not pay were said to wander the riverbank for a hundred years.
Who are Charon's parents?
Charon is the son of Erebus, the darkness, and Nyx, the night.
Which living heroes crossed with Charon?
A few living heroes made the journey, including Heracles, Orpheus, Theseus and Aeneas.
Which river does Charon cross?
Older Greek sources often name the Acheron, while later writers, especially the Romans, made it the Styx.
