2007-02-21 10:48:33 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
The first post is correct this was a practice in the wild west, few had even heard about the River Styx, that money was place in the decedents hand.
This is where the expression "He'd steal the pennies off a dead man's eyes" comes from to describe a thief. Pennies were larger then our's are today.
2007-02-21 15:31:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
So when the coins melted and the people were screaming in pain youd know they were alive either that or i think in those days they thought that you had to pay a saint or something
2007-02-21 11:25:30 · answer #2 · answered by Krayden 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because when you die you loose body fluids and the eyes will sink in so they would put coins on there eye lids so it wouldn't look so gross,
2007-02-22 07:43:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
charon wanted a fee for crossing the river Styx so the relatives put coins in there cause they would not have to wander around and find the paupers enterance to hades
2007-02-21 10:52:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
because the coins paid the toll to get in to the after-life
2007-02-21 10:57:53 · answer #5 · answered by The fan 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hey I asked the same thing, and people have responded to my question with good details, maybe look up my question to get your answer
-peace
2007-02-21 11:04:20 · answer #6 · answered by sunsetconmartini 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To pay Caron* to ferry you across the Styx
2007-02-22 19:44:22 · answer #7 · answered by Iron What? 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It was adding weight to keep the eyelids closed until rigormortis set in.
2007-02-21 23:12:33 · answer #8 · answered by Rev. Two Bears 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
so they could pay for their trip across the river to the other world.
2007-02-21 10:51:40 · answer #9 · answered by crash 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It kept the eyelids shut.
2007-02-21 10:51:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋