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Show me another »Whats the significance of the gold coins placed on the eyes of the dead?
why are gold coins placed on the eyes of their dead? what is the significance of it?
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In ancient Greek and Roman mythology Charon was the ferryman who would take the souls of the dead across the River Styx to the underworld. He demanded payment for the crossing and that is why copper coins were placed on the eyes or the tongue of the dead. It was thought that if the shade of a dead person did not have a fare, they would be left stranded in the world of the living, haunting people as ghosts.
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Other Answers (8)
- I remember hearing that the coins are to pay the toll to cross the river Styx.0% 0 Votes
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- yes they are to pay Hades? i think thats him? Or whoever they have to pay soeone to get over the river stix or their soul will wonder the earth for eternity and not be able to get to the afterlife0% 0 Votes
- I found this, kinda sorta explains why this has been done.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charon%27s_…25% 1 Vote -
- The copper coins were to pay Charon the boatman to ferry the corpse across the river styx into the underworld.
They had the practicle value of keeping the corpse's eyelids closed during services/wake.25% 1 Vote - The gold coins are very important. When someone dies they are supposed to enter the afterlife. Upon death they arrive at the river Styx. The boat man is there. They give the boatman the coins and get a ride into the afterlife. Those who dont have coins are cast into the river for all of eternity.0% 0 Votes
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