In Greek mythology, the "River Styx" (Greek: Στύξ) was a river which formed the boundary between Earth and the Underworld (Hades). The Greek Underworld is a general term used to describe the various realms of Greek mythology which were believed to lie beneath the earth or beyond the horizon Aeacus (also spelled Eäcus, Greek, "bewailing" or "earth borne" was a mythological king of the island of Aegina In Greek mythology, Cerberus or Kerberos ( Greek Κέρβερος Kérberos) the ker or Daimon of In Greek mythology, Charon or Kharon (in Greek, Χάρων &mdash the bright) was the Ferryman of Hades Hades (from Greek, Hadēs, originally, Haidēs or, Aidēs, probably from Indo-European *n̥-wid- 'unseen' refers both to the ancient In Greek mythology, Minos ( Ancient Greek:) was a mythical king of Crete son of Zeus and Europa. In Greek mythology, Persephone ( Kore or Cora) was the embodiment of the Earth's fertility at the same time that she was the Queen of the Underworld In Greek myths, Rhadamanthus ( also transliterated as Rhadamanthys or Rhadamanthos) was a wise king the son of Zeus and This article concerns the Greek river For other uses see Acheron (disambiguation. The Asphodel Meadows is a section of the Ancient Greek underworld where indifferent and ordinary souls were sent to live after death Cocytus or Kokytos, meaning "the river of wailing" (from the Greek κωκυτός, "lamentation" is a river in the underworld in In Greek mythology, Elysium ( Greek:) was a section of the Underworld (the spelling Elysium is a Latinization of the In Greek mythology, Erebus or Erebos ( Ancient Greek:, English translation: "deep blackness/darkness or shadow" was the son of a primordial In Classical Greek, Lethe (λήθη Classical Greek, Modern Greek:) literally means "forgetfulness" or "concealment" In Greek mythology, the river Phlegethon ( English translation: "flaming" or Pyriphlegethon (English translation "fire-flaming" was In classic Greek mythology below Heaven, Earth, and Pontus is Tartarus, or Tartaros ( Greek Τάρταρος deep place In Greek mythology, Ixion was king of the Lapiths, the most ancient tribe of Thessaly, and a son of Ares or Antion or the notorious In Greek mythology, Sisyphus ( Greek: Σίσυφος, Latinized: Sisyphus (ˈsɪsɨfəs was a King punished in In Greek mythology Tantalus ( Greek Τάνταλος was a son of Zeus and the Nymph Plouto. In Greek mythology, the Titans ( Greek: Tītā́n; plural Tītânes) were a race of powerful Deities that ruled during the legendary Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and Heroes the nature of the world and the origins and significance Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly "Riverine" redirects here For the use of that term in Maritime geography, see there EARTH was a short-lived Japanese vocal trio which released 6 singles and 1 album between 2000 and 2001 Hades (from Greek, Hadēs, originally, Haidēs or, Aidēs, probably from Indo-European *n̥-wid- 'unseen' refers both to the ancient It circles Hades nine times. The rivers Styx, Phlegethon, Acheron and Cocytus all converge at the center of Hades on a great marsh. In Greek mythology, the river Phlegethon ( English translation: "flaming" or Pyriphlegethon (English translation "fire-flaming" was This article concerns the Greek river For other uses see Acheron (disambiguation. Cocytus or Kokytos, meaning "the river of wailing" (from the Greek κωκυτός, "lamentation" is a river in the underworld in A swamp is a Wetland featuring temporary or permanent inundation of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water The other important rivers of Hades are Lethe and Eridanos. In Classical Greek, Lethe (λήθη Classical Greek, Modern Greek:) literally means "forgetfulness" or "concealment" The River Eridanos (or Eridanus) is a river of Hades in Greek mythology, whose name has been adopted by Geologists and paleogeographers Styx was guarded by Phlegyas, who passes the souls from one side to another of the river. Phlegyas, son of Ares and Chryse, was king of the Lapiths in Greek mythology. In other versions, Phlegyas guarded Phlegethon, one of the other main rivers of Hades. Sometimes the ferryman was called Charon. In Greek mythology, Charon or Kharon (in Greek, Χάρων &mdash the bright) was the Ferryman of Hades

The gods respected the Styx and swore binding oaths by it. Zeus swore to give Semele whatever she wanted and was then obliged to follow through, resulting in her death. Zeus (zjuːs in Greek: nominative: Zeús /zdeús/ genitive: Diós; Modern Greek /'zefs/ in Greek mythology Stimula redirects here For the Genus of Grass skipper Butterflies, see Stimula (butterfly. Helios similarly promised Phaëton whatever he desired, also resulting in his death. In Greek mythology the Sun was personified as Helios (ˈhiliˌɑs ( Ἥλιος Latinized as Helius) In Greek mythology, Phaëton or Phaethon (ˈfeɪətn or /ˈfeɪəθən/ (Φαέθων "shining" was the son of Helios ( Phoebus Gods that did not follow through on such an oath had to drink from the river, causing them to lose their voices for nine years. According to some versions, Styx had miraculous powers and could make someone immortal/invulnerable. Immortality (or eternal life) is the concept of living in physical or spiritual form for an Infinite length of Time. Achilles may have been dipped in it in his childhood, acquiring invulnerability, with exception of his heel, which was held by his mother in order to submerge him. "Achilleus" redirects here For the emperor with this name see Achilleus (emperor. His exposed heel thus became known as Achilles' heel, a metaphor for a weak spot in modern meaning. This article deals with the phrase For other uses see Achilles Heel.

Styx, etching by Gustave Doré, representing Dante's Divine Comedy journey, 1861. The Divine Comedy

Styx was primarily a feature in the afterworld of Greek mythology, but has been described as a feature present in the hell of Christianity as well, notably in The Divine Comedy and also "Paradise Lost". Afterworld, a Score Entertainment Collectible card game Afterworld is a song by the Psychobilly band Tiger Hell, according to many Religious beliefs, is a location in the Afterlife, which may be described as a place of suffering Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings The Divine Comedy Paradise Lost is an Epic poem in Blank verse by the 17th-century English poet John Milton. The ferryman Charon is in modern times commonly believed to have transported the souls of the newly dead across this river into the underworld, though in the original Greek and Roman sources, as well as in Dante, it was the river Acheron that Charon plied. Dante put Phlegyas over the Styx and made it the fifth circle of Hell, where the wrathful and sullen are punished by being drowned in the muddy waters for eternity.

The adjective Stygian means "of or relating to the River Styx", and may also refer to anything that is dark and dismal.

Goddess

Styx was also the name of the daughter of Oceanus and Tethys. Ocean (Ὠκεανός was believed to be the world-ocean in Classical antiquity, which the ancient Romans and Greeks considered to be In Classical Greek mythology, Tethys (Greek Τηθύς) daughter of Uranus and Gaia ( Hesiod, Theogony lines With Pallas, she was the mother of Zelus, Nike, Cratos and Bia (and sometimes Eos). Pallas is a Titan associated with war His family tree is disputed This Zelos is the Greek personification For other uses see Zelos. In Greek mythology, Nike ( Greek Νίκη níːkɛː meaning Victory) was a Goddess who personified Triumph In Greek mythology, Cratos ( English translation: "strength" was a son of Pallas and Styx, and he was the personification of strength In Greek mythology, Bia ( Ancient Greek: βία English translation: "Force" was the personification of force daughter of Pallas For other uses of the name Eos see Eos (disambiguation. For the Slavic goddesses called the Auroras see The Zorya. Styx supported Zeus in the Titanomachy where she was the first to rush to his aid. Titanomachy (epic poem In Greek mythology, the Titanomachy, or War of the Titans (Τιτανομαχία was the ten-year series of battles fought between For this reason her name was given the honor of being a binding oath for the gods.

Nymph

Styx was also the name of a naiad whose river was the most holy and sacred, and to swear on it was the most holy oath a god could make. In Greek mythology, the Naiads or Naiades (Ναϊάδες from the Greek νάειν "to flow" and νἃμα "running water" Her name meant literally Hateful. She and the goddess are often held to be the same figure.

See also

• Rasā
• Sanzu River

External links

• Theoi Project - Potamos Styx