In the movie when people died they would put coins on the eyes of the person and then burn them. I wanted to know if the Greeks really used this practice and if so who did it start with, when, and what was the meaning behind it?
2006-06-22 17:09:27 · 6 answers · asked by Sue S 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Yes, the Greeks did it, as did many other cultures. (Some still do) The practice seems to have originated in Crete, where the first archaelogical carbon-dated relic was found, but the main purpose for the Greeks was part of their religion.
When you died you had to cross the River Styx to enter Tartarus. To enter you had to cross by boat, an in order to cross you had to pay the ferryman, Charon, to take you across, else you would be lost in the lands between the three Rivers of Styx, Lethe, and Mneysmene.
2006-06-23 12:39:41 · answer #1 · answered by Aingeal 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Yes, if the dead body didn't have any coins visible on him/her, they couldn't enter into the Underworld (which is Heaven and Hell but in different sections not all bound together).
Charon was the one who took the spirit to the gates and if u didn't have coin for him, he wouldn't give u ride so u'd be stuck on the wrong side of the River Nix - hence ghosts.
Many family members would put coins on the body to make sure they got a ride on Charon's boat and got into the Underworld, if not, they'd be doomed forever until the spirit can find a way to pay to get across the river.
The coins had to be visible 'cuz Charon wouldn't search your body until he found a coin. You had to be prepared to give him the coin or bribe him in someway.
2006-06-22 22:45:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure who started it, but I can tell you the Greeks really did practice that particular ritual. The coins were so the dead friend or relative could pay the toll to get on the boat to the underworld.
2006-06-22 17:15:08 · answer #3 · answered by verilita 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they actualy put coins on the eyes or in the mouth or under their tongues the egyptians also did this. the romanian gypsies wear the gold , it was about that they are paying their way to the ferryman to the afterlife.
funny thing is thugh that all the mummies and others. still have the coin on their eyes..
if you like to speak to a greek historian> he is rather famous there
his id is sitalkis@hotmail.com
he is very interesting and also doing archelogical digs arund greece..
2006-06-22 17:18:21 · answer #4 · answered by nikkiidaniels 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does nationwide Treasure count huge sort? No? Oh . . . a great sort of the classic history video clips are all approximately blood and glorified conflict, so in case you comprehend of a action picture that doesn't have that . . .
2016-10-31 08:16:11 · answer #5 · answered by sikorski 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah
2006-06-22 17:14:04 · answer #6 · answered by Pete 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋