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OT attn: Pavlos
Not about a human name, but I thought you might know it. When I clicked Charon it said In Greek mythology Charon was the operator of the ferry that brought the newly dead over the River Acheron into Hades. I was under the impression that Styx was the name of this river. Am I wrong or had the river more than one name?

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I'm not Pavlos, but I may be able to answer. :)My understanding is that there are five rivers in the Underworld: Acheron - the river of woe; Styx - the river of hate; Lethe - the river of forgetfulness; Cocytus - the river of lamentation (which flows into Acheron); Phlegethon - the river of fire. Acheron and Styx are not the same, but it is a common misconception. Acheron is more like a lake but was often called a river, whilst the River Styx wrapped around the Underworld nine times. In the original Greek and Roman sources, aswell as in Dante, it was Acheron that Charon crossed.Cheers,
Lucy.
Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil. – CS Lewis
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Thank you!You say the Styx was wrapped around the underworld, how thit the dead cross that? Or is it a huge spiral and it was just a long walk?
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You're welcome. :)Styx and three of the rivers (Phlegethon, Acheron and Cocytus) converge at the centre of Hades; therefore, by crossing Acheron, the dead inevitably encounter Styx aswell.Cheers,
Lucy.
Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil. – CS Lewis

This message was edited 6/16/2006, 9:47 AM

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Thanks again!
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Not at all.
Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil. – CS Lewis
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Spot-on, Lucy :)
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Thank you! :)
Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil. – CS Lewis
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