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The obol is known in Greek mythology as the fee payed to Charon, the ferryman of the underworld, who transported the shades of the dead across the river Styx or Acheron to Hades. His fee was a single obol placed in the mouth of the deceased upon burial. Those who had not received proper burial were unable to pay the fee, and were left to wander the banks of the river.
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Artwork Details
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Title: Silver obol
Date: ca. 454–404 BC
Culture: Greek, Attica
Medium: Silver
Dimensions: 3/8 in. (9 mm)
Classification: Coins
Credit Line: Bequest of Nanette B. Kelekian, 2020
Accession Number: 2021.40.82
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Related Artworks
- All Related Artworks
- Greek and Roman Art
- Coins
- Metal
- Money
- Obols
- Silver
- From Attica
- From Europe
- From Greece
- From 1000 B.C.–A.D. 1
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The Museum's collection of Greek and Roman art comprises more than 30,000 works ranging in date from the Neolithic period to the time of the Roman emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity in A.D. 312.
