Rivers and other water sources played an important role in the lives of the ancient Greece, after all water is essential to life. Rivers were used to irrigate crops, used as boundaries and also used as a means of travel. Rivers though were not just about life and five rivers were said to play an important role in the afterlife as well.

In Greek mythology the afterlife took place in the realm of Hades, a domain also known as Hades that comprised Tartarus, the Asphodel Meadows and the Elysian Fields. The geography of the realm was often described in terms of the five rivers; these rivers being the Acheron, Styx, Lethe, Phlegethon and Cocytus.

Each of the five rivers, as with all water sources, had a deity of matching name associated with them. Within Hades, each of the rivers was to play a role in the afterlife.

The River Acheron was arguably the most important of the rivers of the Underworld. The River Acheron was described as being the second greatest of all the world’s rivers, second indeed only to the great Oceanus, with the Styx and Phlegethon flowing out of it. Within the underworld it was described as being the River of Woe or Pain, with later sources, especially Dante describing it as being the border between the world and Hades.

It was across the Acheron that Charon would ferry the dead, as long as they could provide payment for the crossing. Along the banks of the Acheron also roamed Cerberus, the triple-headed dog. Cerberus was there to guard against the possibility of anyone from making their exit from Hades once they had entered. How good a guard dog Cerberus was though is debatable as a number of mortals and demi-gods managed to enter and leave Hades; including the likes of Heracles, Psyche, Theseus and Orpheus.

Many of the attributes of the Acheron have become associated with the River Styx, making the Styx by far the most famous of the rivers of Hades. The Styx was said to encircle the underworld nine times, and was referred to as the River of Hate, and often regarded as a river of punishment. In ancient times great power was attributed to the River Styx, and unbreakable oaths were uttered upon it, even the gods would have to keep their promises once its name was called upon.

The River Lethe was the river of forgetfulness. Those individuals destined to spend their lives in the Asphodel Meadows as mindless drones were required to drink of the river in order to forget their previous lives. The route of the Lethe was said to take it around the cave of Hypnos, god of sleep.

Like the River Styx, the River Phlegethon was often described as a river of punishment, and known as the River of Fire. The last of the five rivers of the Underworld was the River Cocytus, the River of Lamentation. Later mythology would have it that it was along this river that the souls unable to pay Charon for crossing would wander, although again this was an attribute originally intended for the Acheron.

Occasionally two additional rivers, the Alpheus and Eridanos were added to the main five, although they are more commonly referred to as being rivers outside of Hades.