Continuing on with the geography of the Underworld, there are also five rivers along with the Asphodel Meadows, Elysium, and Tartaros.
The first river is the Cocytus, the river of lamentation and wailing. Its god is noticeable for siring Minthe, a naiad that claimed superiority to Persephone, Hades’ wife. As a result, she got turned into the plant we all know today, mint.
Next is the Phlegethon, the river of fire. It is said to punish the wicked by healing them, only for them to suffer more pain. The entire river consists of flames and lava, and the god of the river is sometimes described as the son of Oceanos, while other times being described as the son of the god Cocytus.
The third river is the Acheron, or the river of woe/pain. There are different speculations on whether the ferryman Charon ferries dead souls across the river Acheron or the river Styx. The river also has a god (also named Acheron) that was the god of the river/lake Acheron.
The fourth river is the Lethe, the river of forgetfulness/oblivion. It had properties that caused anyone to drink its waters to forget everything. The shades (dead souls) would drink from the Lethe to forget their mortal lives, and according to some sources, only those who were allowed access to Elysium were allowed to drink from the Lethe. This also possibly explaining why it formed the border between the regions of Hades and Elysium. Its goddess, Lethe, was often identified as the daimona Lethe, the personification of forgetfulness.
Finally, last but certainly not least, the river Styx. Arguably the most well-known river of the five rivers, it is the river of unbreakable oath. How unbreakable is it? Well, even most gods who swear on the river Styx are obliged to obey it and fear breaking the oath, as it is sometimes said that a horrible curse will be brought onto you once you do. Styx was originally an Oceanid and the personification of hatred, until she allied with Zeus in the Titan Wars and was rewarded with the role of the goddess of unbreakable oaths.
So, which river is your favorite? Thanks for reading!
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