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River Styx
River Styx
The famous band Styx named their band after the mythological River Styx and compiled a song called "Boat on a River" that I assumed was about the River Styx itself (though I am not sure). I had provided this in the first collaboration and decided to include it again (more examples follow this video).
Charon on the River Styx
The famous band Styx named their band after the mythological River Styx and compiled a song called "Boat on a River" that I assumed was about the River Styx itself (though I am not sure). I had provided this in the first collaboration and decided to include it again (more examples follow this video).
The River Styx is a mythological river that supposedly separates the living from the dead. "Styx" comes from the Greek word Stugein meaning "hate," thus being the River of Hate.
There is actually a compilation of five (5) rivers that separate the underworld (Hades) from the the world of the living:
1. Acheron - the river of woe. The name of one of the five rivers (occasionally also regarded as a lake) that flow through the realm of Hades. This river is often metaphorically used for Hades itself. Here the shades are ferried across by Charon. The river (Acheron) is identified with the Epirus river in Greece that flows underground in several places. 2. Cocytus - the river of lamentation. One of the five rivers of Hades, which flows into the Acheron.The unburied were doomed to wander about its banks for hundred years.
3. Phlegethon - the river of fire. The river that flows with fire which burns and does not consume. It is one of the five principal rivers in the realms of Hades.
4. Lethe - the river of forgetfulness. In Greek mythology, the Lethe is one of the rivers that flow through the realm of Hades. Called the River of Oblivion, the shades of the dead had to drink from this river to forget about their past lives on earth.
5. Styx - the river of hate. The most well-known of the five rivers and is considered by the Gods of Greek mythology to be the most sacred.
The gatekeeper of the Rivers, also referred to as the boatman or ferryman, goes by the name of Charon whose job is to ferry the living souls into the underworld of Hades. In order to be transported into the underworld via the River Styx, one must have the proper payment, much like paying a toll. The payment is actually somewhat of a ritual that must be done at one's burial. A gold coin, or an obol, must be placed in their mouth during burial (and to one source, on the eyes of the dead) to be presented to Charon in exchange for transport into the underworld. According to some sources, presenting a golden bough to Charon could also be accepted if a soul did not have an obol. If a soul had neither of the two types of payment, then they must consequently wander around the river or on earth for 100 years.
Hesiod--a Greek poet usually paired with Homer--says that Styx was a goddess and daughter of Ocean, and that, when Zeus (the king of the Gods) summoned the gods to Olympus to help him to fight the Titans, Styx was the first to come and her children with her; hence as a reward Zeus ordained that the most solemn oath of the gods should be by her and that her children should always live with him. To the Gods, there was no oath more sacred than to swear by the river Styx. Some said the river was so foul that to drink of it brought instant death. Some said it bubbled with fire. By some accounts, Achilles was dipped into the river styx to wash away his mortality.
There is actually a compilation of five (5) rivers that separate the underworld (Hades) from the the world of the living:
1. Acheron - the river of woe. The name of one of the five rivers (occasionally also regarded as a lake) that flow through the realm of Hades. This river is often metaphorically used for Hades itself. Here the shades are ferried across by Charon. The river (Acheron) is identified with the Epirus river in Greece that flows underground in several places.
3. Phlegethon - the river of fire. The river that flows with fire which burns and does not consume. It is one of the five principal rivers in the realms of Hades.
4. Lethe - the river of forgetfulness. In Greek mythology, the Lethe is one of the rivers that flow through the realm of Hades. Called the River of Oblivion, the shades of the dead had to drink from this river to forget about their past lives on earth.
5. Styx - the river of hate. The most well-known of the five rivers and is considered by the Gods of Greek mythology to be the most sacred.
The gatekeeper of the Rivers, also referred to as the boatman or ferryman, goes by the name of Charon whose job is to ferry the living souls into the underworld of Hades. In order to be transported into the underworld via the River Styx, one must have the proper payment, much like paying a toll. The payment is actually somewhat of a ritual that must be done at one's burial. A gold coin, or an obol, must be placed in their mouth during burial (and to one source, on the eyes of the dead) to be presented to Charon in exchange for transport into the underworld. According to some sources, presenting a golden bough to Charon could also be accepted if a soul did not have an obol. If a soul had neither of the two types of payment, then they must consequently wander around the river or on earth for 100 years.
Hesiod--a Greek poet usually paired with Homer--says that Styx was a goddess and daughter of Ocean, and that, when Zeus (the king of the Gods) summoned the gods to Olympus to help him to fight the Titans, Styx was the first to come and her children with her; hence as a reward Zeus ordained that the most solemn oath of the gods should be by her and that her children should always live with him. To the Gods, there was no oath more sacred than to swear by the river Styx. Some said the river was so foul that to drink of it brought instant death. Some said it bubbled with fire. By some accounts, Achilles was dipped into the river styx to wash away his mortality.
Bibliography and Suggested Links:
Styx (River)
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/s/styx_river.html
Ferryman
http://www.thecattbox.com/ferryman.htm
What is the river Styx?
http://www.theriverstyx.net/river.shtml
Does any body know the story of paying the ferryman? http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071022071550AAAzO0m
YouTube - Styx - Boat On The River
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rRvSwKCCPY
Compiled by: Eivette Manzana
Styx (River)
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/s/styx_river.html
Ferryman
http://www.thecattbox.com/ferryman.htm
What is the river Styx?
http://www.theriverstyx.net/river.shtml
Does any body know the story of paying the ferryman? http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071022071550AAAzO0m
YouTube - Styx - Boat On The River
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rRvSwKCCPY
Compiled by: Eivette Manzana
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