User:Gravycajun/Afterlife

Greek Mythology and life after death.
Reincarnation is a taboo topic amongst many religions, and individuals alike. The thought of a soul traveling outside of a human form and moving between worlds is what causes many to turn their heads a look away. It isn't a very favorable topic nor does it sit well in normal conversation. The Greeks however not only spoke about reincarnation but lived their life in such a way that when their lives were ready to end, they would make certain to have family members leave a coin in their mouths after a ceremony in order to pay the spiritual ferryman Charon to take their soul across the river Styx into the underworld. Some spirits whom were thought to not have any impact on lives outside their own were thought to have been banished to The land of Hades himself where they were to live out their days as a soul and wander aimlessly. It was believed that if you were dead as a Greek, you were in a continuing family.

The continuing family and how it applies to life after death.
The continuing family means that whether you are currently living, or currently passed on, a Motif would be a handshake that was done. Symbolizing the greeting of someone from the current life or from another life- The afterlife. The Motif is usually found on gravestones of a Greeks headstone. The handshake is to show that human kindness goes beyond life, it follows us into death and should be shown always. It was known that this kindness stretched as far as relatives and friends regularly visiting gravestones and leaving, wine, food, and various drinks. Since it was believed that in the afterlife you often stayed close to your grave, this is why food and beverages were left, to allow those that visited their own graves to eat and have the comfort of being taken care of even in the afterlife. Life after death falls into this notion beyond what we can fully understand, life after death to the Greeks means more than just bringing wine and food to your loved one. It means believing that their loved one is still here with them, walking the earth and holding regular conversations as well as daily activities that resemble that of the living.

Life after Death Continued
This Myth is something that is still not completely understood. But what we do know about Life after death in regards to the Greeks is that it strongly practiced and believed in. Greeks did not truly believe in the Reincarnation of their loved ones, rather they believed that their loved ones still roamed this earth in the spirit world, and that their bodies would remain here so long as Charon the ferryman had taken their body across the river "Styx" into the underworld. If this was done then the Greeks loved one would be able to roam the earth and visit with them often. This is what the Greeks believed to be the life after death, this is why the Greeks tribute their loved ones with food and wine, with the coin in their mouths for the ferryman and the handshake on their gravestones to prove the kindness to their loved ones even in the afterlife.

These are the ways that the Greeks believed that they could continue to communicate with their loved ones and maintain a relationship with them, this was sought for the Greeks among the living to spend time with them, so when they entered into the afterlife with them they too could share the same respect that they had when they gave to the dead, whilst they were the living. If a spirit was thought to not have brought any positivity in their community or lived a good life without sin were thought to have been banished to the land of hades which a spirit would never be able to leave. It was the equivalent to what we considered Hell.