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When did the two coins over the dead's eyes start and what is the history of it?
Wiki User
∙ 16y ago
In Greek mythology, Hades (their version of the underworld), had 5 rivers; one of them being the Styx. Dead souls had to cross it once they left the realm of the living and the only way was on the boat of Charon. The ancient Greeks would put coins on the eyes of their dead so they could pay the boatman to ensure safe passage across the river, and that they would not be left behind.
Wiki User
∙ 16y ago
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What is the effect of putting coins on the eyes of the dead?
The coins on the eyes of the dead are meant to provide the dead with payment for Charon, the ferryman who takes the dead across the River Styx and into the Underworld.
What famous myth hades involved with?
Coins on the eyes of the dead
What happend to the ancient greeks people when they died?
they placed coins in there eyes
How does football visors change history?
It changes history by not getting the sun in your eyes and also not getting fingers to the eyes the end
Why do Hindu's wear copper coins on their eyes when they die?
i dont really know
Why did they put coins on Lincoln's eyes when he died?
The main reason they put coins on Abraham Lincolns eyes when he dies was to keep his eyelids closed. There is also a wives tale about the pennies allowing the dead to travel to the river Styx.
Is putting two coins over the eyes still practiced today?
The practice of placing to coins over a dead persons eyes, was due to the belief that for a dead person to cross the River Styx into Hades. They had to pay the ferryman two silver coins or else they were trapped eternally on the other side. This practice died out two millennia ago.
Do catholics put coins in the eyes of the dead?
No, Catholic tradition does not involve putting coins in the eyes of the dead. This practice comes from ancient Greek and Roman customs to pay the ferryman to transport the deceased across the river Styx in the afterlife. It is not a part of Catholic funeral rites.
Does PM DD affect a persons eyes?
when i start to have pms , my eyes start to hurt. I don't know why. But i would really like to find out.
Why did John Ryder put the coins on Jim's eyes in the film The Hitcher?
To send him to Heaven faster and safer.......
Why are coins left on headstones?
I'm not very sure the accuracy of this, but I've seen on television (History Channel? Discovery?) that ancient Greeks and later on Romans left a pile of coins over the tombstone of the departed loved ones. The coins were meant to pay Charonte (in the greek mythology it was the entity responsible for delivery the death over the Lethe River). The Lethe River was believed to erase all the memory of the deaths. Nowadays I've heard and seen some tombstones with coins engraved but don't know the true meaning.
What is the purpose of coins in eyes of sacrificial animals?
I'm not familiar with this practice on sacrifical animals, however amongst people it was traditional to place coins on the eyes of the dead so that they could pay the fare to Charon, the boat man who carried the souls of the dead across the river Styx.
