Classification: Legendary & Supernatural Humanoids

Temporal Range: 6th Century BCE

Geographic Range: The Underworld

Diet: Unknown

Horde: Greek

The ferryman who guides souls across the Rivers Styx and Acheron to the Underworld, Charon (kair-on) is someone you should hope you won’t be seeing any time soon. His fee for crossing is a penny and this is a one-way trip only. 

Described as a miserable and withered old man, Charon represents death itself. He rides a simple skiff, which he steers across the rivers of the Underworld. Picking up the dead on one shore and dropping them off at the gates to Hades. In order to pay your penny, you should be buried with a gold coin in your mouth, which Charon will take as payment. If you cannot pay, you will be refused passage and cursed to wander the shores of the river as a lost soul.

While the old adage “you can’t take it with you” is certainly one to live by, we do recommend keeping a penny spare if you want to ensure a safe trip to the Underworld when your time comes.