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Charon, is the ferryman of the dead in Greek mythology. Hermes brings the souls of those who have died to him, and Charon ferries them across the river Acheron. He only accepts the dead who are buried or burned with the proper rites, and that pay him for their passage. For this reason the Greeks always placed a coin under the tongue of the deceased.
Those who cannot afford the passage, or are not admitted by Charon, are doomed to wander on the banks of the Styx for a hundred years. Charon is the son of Erebus and Nyx. He is depicted as an sulky old man, or as a winged demon carrying a double hammer. He is similar to the Etruscan (Charun)."Charon (mythology)," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2000
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Images
Painting of Charon in his boat with wings
Charon Crossing the Styx: Joachim Patenier (c. 1480-1524)
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