TP061

2024

Movies and TV

Charon, a recurring figure in film and television, is derived from the mythological ferryman of the dead in Greek lore. He transports souls across the River Styx (or Acheron in some interpretations) to the underworld, ruled by Hades.

His portrayal varies, but Charon is often depicted as a grim, silent, and sometimes skeletal figure. He demands payment – usually a coin (obol) placed in the mouth of the deceased – for his services. Without payment, the soul is condemned to wander the shores of the river for eternity.

Notable appearances include the films "Jason and the Argonauts" (1963), where he's a cloaked figure, and "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" (2010), where he's a more modern, slightly impatient, official. He also appears in various television shows, often in fantasy or mythological contexts, such as "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys".

While details shift across different adaptations, the core characteristics of Charon as the ferryman and gatekeeper to the afterlife remain consistent.