acheron

[əˈkɛrən]

acheron Definition

a river in Greek mythology that was said to be a branch of the river Styx and the boundary between Earth and the Underworld.

Using acheron: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "acheron" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The boatman Charon ferried souls across the Acheron into the Underworld.

  • Example

    In Dante's Inferno, the Acheron is the first river crossed by the protagonist on his journey through Hell.

Phrases with acheron

  • passing from life to death or from one state to another

    Example

    The soldier knew he was crossing the Acheron when he stepped onto the battlefield.

  • Acheron's ferryman

    Charon, the boatman who ferries souls across the Acheron into the Underworld

    Example

    In Greek mythology, the dead must pay the ferryman to cross the Acheron, or they will be left to wander the shores for a hundred years.

  • Acheron's waters

    the river that separates the world of the living from the Underworld

    Example

    The hero braved the Acheron's waters to rescue his beloved from the clutches of Hades.

Origins of acheron

from Greek 'akhos', meaning 'woe' or 'pain'

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Summary: acheron in Brief

'Acheron' [əˈkɛrən] is a river in Greek mythology that separates the world of the living from the Underworld. It is often associated with Charon, the ferryman who transports souls across the river. Phrases like 'crossing the Acheron' and 'Acheron's ferryman' use the term to denote passing from one state to another or the figure who facilitates it.