My friend went to salem Mass and saw pennies in one of the cemetaries there..
2007-03-18 00:05:39 · 6 answers · asked by Karen 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
It is called "Paying the Ferryman." In classical times it was common to put two coins over the eyelids of the deceased to pay Charon, the ferryman who took souls over the river Styx that divided Hades from the world. This ensured that the soul would be taken across the river and not be stranded in the mortal plane (where it would probably be a nusiance:P) Hope this helps!
2007-03-18 01:22:08 · answer #1 · answered by meraphetamine 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It probably has to do with providing the dead with a fare for the boat across the river Styx, into the afterlife. I believe there's an old myth about having to pay the boat captain or he'd not take you across to the afterlife.
2007-03-18 07:10:50 · answer #2 · answered by RIffRaffMama 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pennies are made of copper which is sacred to the goddess Venus...other than that i do not know.
2007-03-18 22:32:39 · answer #3 · answered by Audrey Grace 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To pay the ferryman
2007-03-18 10:16:45 · answer #4 · answered by raven blackwing 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
to pay the ferryman
2007-03-18 07:10:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
for them to buy food or not they will starve in hell
2007-03-18 07:13:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋