Charon, the Ferryman

The myth

Charon was the ferryman who carried the souls of the dead across the river Acheron, or the Styx, into the realm of Hades. He took aboard only those who had received funeral rites and could pay the fare, which is why many Greeks were buried with a coin, the obol. Pausanias says the painter Polygnotus depicted him at Delphi following an old poem, the Minyas. In Aristophanes' comedy The Frogs, he charges the god Dionysus two coins. Poets describe him as a grim, surly old man who would not let the living into his boat.

Why it has this power

An Uncommon level-5 card with 1700 ATK and 1900 DEF: not a warrior but the keeper of the crossing, hence the higher defense. A Water Undead for the river he crosses, he bears the Moon and Leviathan constellations. He is the chief material of the Rite of Charon's Obol, which calls Cerberus to the field.

Did you know

Archaeologists have found coins in Greek graves, sometimes in the dead person's mouth, though the custom varied widely.

Connections

• In Damon, Trireme Captain's deck
• In Theron, Priest of the Underworld's deck

Where to get it

• Campaign drop: Damon, Trireme Captain (Aegean of Heroes) — grade S: 14% · grade A: 14% · grade B: 14% · grade C: 14% · grade D: 13%
• Campaign drop: Theron, Priest of the Underworld (Aegean of Heroes) — grade S: 17% · grade A: 17% · grade B: 17% · grade C: 17% · grade D: 17%
• Daily Offering: 0.45% per pack (Uncommon 33% per card)
• Welcome Pack: 1.1% per pack (Uncommon 30% per card)
• Traveler's Pack: 0.96% per pack · 5.6% in the themed pack (Uncommon 29% per card)
• Bronze Reliquary: 0.94% per pack · 5.5% in the themed pack (Uncommon 29% per card)
• Silver Reliquary: 0.96% per pack · 5.6% in the themed pack (Uncommon 33% per card)
• Golden Reliquary: 0.94% per pack · 5.5% in the themed pack (Uncommon 35% per card)
• Daily Showcase: Shows up on about 0.98% of days · 400 gold
• Craft with card dust: 100 dust
• Crossing of Myths: Can be offered as a reward during a crossing (the card stays in the crossing deck).

Sources

1. CHARON (Kharon) - Ferryman of the Dead, Underworld Daemon of Greek Mythology — Aaron J. Atsma, Theoi Project
2. Charon: The Ferryman to the Dead in Greek Mythology (World History Encyclopedia) — Mark Cartwright