In my line of work I often talk to travelers that are making plans for the afterlife and occassionally I will talk to one that just refuses to pay the ferryman fee- two standard issue Roman gold coins, c.56BC. Why is it that people think the afterlife is going to be cheap?
2007-03-10 10:12:04 · 10 answers · asked by grim.reaper_forever 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
For many civilizations, it was believed that "you CAN take it with you". An extension of this belief was that it would be necessary to pay some form of toll or passage to the afterlife-which eludes to the fact that the structure of society and classes carried on as well. This went far beyond coins on the eyes, and most people were buried with everything from treasures and jewels to tools, weapons and terra cotta "armies". It wasn't just the Romans. These traditions have been known to American Indian and Eastern cultures as little as a hundred years ago.
In western culture, up until the 20th century when embalming and body prep became more advanced-coins were placed on the eyes of the deceased to weight down the eyelids in a lying position-to keep them from lolling open and making the people viewing the body uncomfortable. It had nothing to do with spirituality of any kind.
2007-03-10 10:40:19 · answer #1 · answered by dragonlady 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the other responses---3 so far---that I read and have not done extensive research on the issue. I do, however, believe that the eyes are the window to the soul and the coins act as a shield: to pay the toll, sign that a grave has been desecrated from robbers and or necrophiliacs,etc... It was written by Nostradamus that the coins buried with him had the exact date when grave robbers violated his resting place. In some strange way, it is an offering and protection at the same time.
2007-03-10 10:25:04 · answer #2 · answered by unknownsoldier1st 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess some people couldn't afford much so they gave what they could. However if someone dies and2 roman coins c56 BC were laid on their eyes I figure that would have quite some value now. However what use would the ferryman have for currency in the Underworld?
2007-03-10 10:19:02 · answer #3 · answered by waggy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Two coins to pay Charon, the blind ferryman to carry the corpse across the river Styx to Hades.
2007-03-10 10:23:57 · answer #4 · answered by CC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It kept the eyelids shut.
The coins you speak of were put into the dead person's hand for the toll across the River Styx. The coins on the eyes were simply to keep the eyes closed.
2007-03-10 10:17:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh, I know who you are. Your the guy from Greek mythology. He's the ferryman that carries the souls of the dead into Hades across Styx (is that right?).
Yeah, people need to realize that money = getting into Hades.
2007-03-10 10:17:18 · answer #6 · answered by Ayesha 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's to stop the eyelids from opening during rigourmortis.
old saying about a someone with a thieving nature: "steal the pennies off a dead man's eyes"
2007-03-10 10:15:06 · answer #7 · answered by Geisha VT poser 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it stems from the greeks who thought you needed to pay the boadman to get across the river stix so that your soul may join with hades.
2007-03-10 10:15:57 · answer #8 · answered by man of questions 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, you have to understand, they're dealing in volume. Since everyone is going to die, they can afford to keep the fares cheap.
2007-03-10 10:18:00 · answer #9 · answered by Let Me Think 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To pay the ferry man.
2007-03-10 10:16:03 · answer #10 · answered by Angelz 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋