Ancient mythology - it is a separate part of the literature, which fascinates the reader by its rich and beautiful language of the world.In addition to interesting stories and stories about heroes, it displayed the basis of the universe, given man's place in it, as well as its dependence on the will of the gods.Deity, in turn, were often similar to people with their passions, desires and vices.A special place was occupied by Charon - the mythology of his predetermined place of the carrier between the world of the living and the dead.
It looked like the world?
We will look in more detail what was and looked like Charon.The mythology of the ancient world clearly indicates that there are actually just three light: underground, overground and underwater.Although the submarine can be safely attributed to the terrestrial world.So, these three kingdoms ruled by three brothers, equal in strength and importance: Zeus, Poseidon and Hades of the Greeks (Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto the Romans).But the main considered Zeus the Thunderer, but he did not climb into the affairs of his brothers.
people inhabited the world of the living - the kingdom of Zeus, but after the death of their bodies indulged in the grave, and the soul goes to the abode of Hades.And the first person, so to speak, whose soul is on the way to hell, was Charon.Mythology says it is both the carrier and the guard, and tax inspector.Probably because he kept a sharp eye to his boat does not sit real people, the soul does not go back, and for his work he took a fee.
Ancient mythology: Charon
Son of Erebus and Nyx, Darkness and Night, the carrier of the underworld had a boat, warped worms.It is believed that he was carrying the souls across the River Styx, but according to another version, he sailed along the river Acheron.Most of all, he described the old man is very grim, dressed in rags.
Dante Alighieri, the creator of "The Divine Comedy", Charon lodged in the first circle of hell.Perhaps it is here that she was carrying his water underground river, which divided the world of the living and the dead.Virgil spoke conductor Dante and ordered the carrier to take his boat poet alive.What appeared to him looked like Charon?Roman Mythology is not contrary to the Hellenic old man had an awesome view.His spit was disheveled, confused and Seda, his eyes burned a fierce fire.
There is one caveat that mentions mythology: Charon transported the souls of the dead in one direction only, and only those people who were buried in the graves with the performance of rites.And one of the prerequisites was to provide the deceased coin, which he could not pay off the carrier.Obol laid dead under the tongue, and it is likely that without money it was impossible to get into the old hell.
Charon and real people
now the reader knows how to look Charon (mythology).Photography, of course, is no, but many artists depicted on his canvases dark god-old man from the underworld.As is known, the carrier no problem to put in your boat dead souls, taking a fee for it.If the souls who do not have obol, they had to wait a hundred years to get to the beach for free.
However, there were real people who on their own or someone else went to Hades before my time.In the "Aeneid" by Virgil says that could pass for them to serve only branch with golden tree growing in the grove of Persephone (the wife of Hades).It took it on the tip of the Sibyl Aeneas.
tricked carry yourself on the other side of Orpheus: the sound of his golden cittern could not resist one of the world of the living and the dead, neither gods nor mortals.Hercules, performing one of his feats, also came to Hades.But he was helped by the god Hermes - ordered to deliver to the ruler of the world of the dead.According to another version, the hero force Charon forced to carry it for the carrier then was punished by Pluto.
Charon art
mythology Charon not appear immediately.Homer in his epics about it did not mention, but at the end of 6.BC.e.this character appeared firmly taken its place.He is often depicted on vases, his image was used in the plays (Aristophanes, Lucian Prodicus).And artists often resorted to this character.A brilliant Renaissance artist Michelangelo working on the design of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, painted on canvas Charon "Doomsday".Gloomy deity of the ancient world and was doing his job, but carries the souls of sinners and not all the dead end.
