Charon (Art by Alexandre Chaudret)
Charon is the ferryman of Avernus, the Greek underworld.
Description[]
In various depictions, Charon is just an old man who ferries the living through the River Styx. In other depictions, he is shown as an undead, with grotesque traits, and is sometimes depicted as been attached to the boat by his torso, essentially ending in him been the boat himself.
Overview[]
Charon's origins are unknown though he is said to be a child of Nyx alone or Nyx and Erebus. It is also not specified when he became a chthonic deity or how he was even employed by Hades to begin with, nevertheless, Charon takes his duties with utmost seriousness and is committed to his task. Charon even ferries the souls of the damned for the Christian Hell though the task is often applied to Phlegyas.
Often accompanying Charon is the messenger god Hermes, who was thought to act as a guide to the dead in Hades. Often Hermes escorts the soul to Charon, who then takes them deeper into the underworld for judgement. However, once they are taken to Charon, it is required to pay the boatman a fee to which he would bring the dead across the River Styx that separated the world of the living from the world of the dead. Those who could not pay the fee were forced to wander the shores of the river as Wraiths for eternity (or one hundred years depending on the recount).
Charon has even assisted Greek figures who descend into Avernus on various challenges, such as Odysseus, Orpheus, and Psyche. Heracles engaged Charon’s services when, for his twelfth and most difficult labour, he was required to fetch the terrible three-headed dog Cerberus. The infernal hound made sure no soul or shade ever left the Underworld or crossed the waters without either Charon or Hermes as their guide. Hades was prepared to punish Charon for allowing Heracles, a living mortal, to traverse the Underworld until the boatman explained that he was given legal passage by Hermes himself.