Charun: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Charun dead souls CdM.jpg|thumb|A typical depiction of Charun. From an Etruscan red-figure calyx-crater. End of the 4th century BC-beginning of the 3rd century BC.]] |
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[[Image:Charun hammer CdM.jpg|thumb|The other side of the same artifact, depicting Achilles killing a Trojan prisonner in front of Charun.]] |
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In [[Etruscan mythology]], '''Charun''', also spelled '''Charu''' on Etruscan artifacts (with "Charun" appearing roughly as often) and sometimes spelled '''Charontes''' or '''Caronte''' in texts from other cultures, was the [[psychopomp]] of the [[underworld]] known as [[Aita]]. His name may have been inspired by [[Charon]] from [[Greek mythology]], though he bears much more resemblance to [[Mesopotamian mythology|Chaldean]] demons or the [[Hindu]] divinities [[Shiva]] and [[Kali]]<ref>Terpening, 14</ref>. |
In [[Etruscan mythology]], '''Charun''', also spelled '''Charu''' on Etruscan artifacts (with "Charun" appearing roughly as often) and sometimes spelled '''Charontes''' or '''Caronte''' in texts from other cultures, was the [[psychopomp]] of the [[underworld]] known as [[Aita]]. His name may have been inspired by [[Charon]] from [[Greek mythology]], though he bears much more resemblance to [[Mesopotamian mythology|Chaldean]] demons or the [[Hindu]] divinities [[Shiva]] and [[Kali]]<ref>Terpening, 14</ref>. |
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==Appearance== |
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In representation, Charun was fundamentally different from his Greek counterpart. Charun was a large creature with a head wrapped in [[snakes]], a [[vulture]]'s hooked-[[nose]], large [[tusks]] like a [[boar]], large [[lips]], pointed [[ears]], a black [[beard]], enormous [[wings]], discolored [[skin]], and snakes around his arms. He |
In representation, Charun was fundamentally different from his Greek counterpart. Charun was a large creature with a head wrapped in [[snakes]]{{citeneeded}}, a [[vulture]]'s hooked-[[nose]], large [[tusks]] like a [[boar]]{{citeneeded}}, large [[lips]], pointed [[ears]], a black [[beard]], enormous [[wings]]{{citeneeded}}, discolored [[skin]], and snakes around his arms{{citeneeded}}. He is depicted with a [[hammer]] with which he is believed to have bashed the [[soul]]s of the [[dead]], after guiding them on horseback to the underworld. He is often portrayed with the goddess [[Vanth]]. He is the servant of [[Mantus]] and [[Mania (mythology)|Mania]], and, in addition to Charon, is comparable to the Greeks' [[Thanatos]], the [[Erinyes]], and the [[Keres (mythology)|Keres]]<ref>Terpening, 15</ref>. |
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==Behavior== |
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Charun appears to love violence and participating in warfare. |
Charun appears to love violence and participating in warfare{{citeneeded}}. The above Etruscan [[krater]] depicts Charun with [[Ajax (mythology)|Ajax]] slaughtering [[Trojan]] prisoners. This urn is currently held in [[Cabinet des Médailles]] 920, [[Bibliothéque Nationale]], Paris. One relief in particular shows two Charuns swinging their hammers at a person's head, though the head no longer survives in the relief.<ref>de Grummond, Nancy. ''Etruscan Myth, Sacred History and Legend''. Philadelphia: University of Philadelphia Museum, 2006, chapter X.</ref> |
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Terpening notes that Charun's hammer or [[mallet]] is sometimes replaced with an [[oar]], although it does not fit with his duties. Rovin says that some accounts |
Terpening notes that Charun's hammer or [[mallet]] is sometimes replaced with an [[oar]], although it does not fit with his duties. Rovin says that some accounts depict him with a [[sword]], and that he "slices" souls with it. He adds that Charun enjoys natural disasters, as well. The Charon of [[Vergil]] in the ''[[Aeneid]]'' is particularly cruel; according to W.F. Jackson Knight<ref>p. 257 (quoted in Terpening, 85)</ref>, "Vergil's Charon is not only the Greek ferryman of [[Aristophanes]] [in ''[[The Frogs]]''], but more than half his Etruscan self, Charun, the Etruscan torturing death-devil, no ferryman at all." |
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==In contemporary popular culture== |
==In contemporary popular culture== |
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In contemporary times, Charun has never been as popular as his Greek counterpart, though there |
In contemporary times, Charun has never been as popular as his Greek counterpart, though there have been some occurences. |
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*Charun is [[Monster in My Pocket]] #97. Unlike Ancient depictions, he is bald, bulky, appears to be wearing no clothing, and his wings look leathery and lack feathers. |
*Charun is [[Monster in My Pocket]] #97. Unlike Ancient depictions, he is bald, bulky, appears to be wearing no clothing, and his wings look leathery and lack feathers. |
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*A reference to Charun in ''The Tribune's Curse: [[SPQR series|SPQR VII]]'' a [[2003]] [[novel]] by [[John Maddox Roberts]], depicts a person dressed as Charun in the [[Colosseum]], killing people with a hammer, as was believed to have occurred there. |
*A reference to Charun in ''The Tribune's Curse: [[SPQR series|SPQR VII]]'' a [[2003]] [[novel]] by [[John Maddox Roberts]], depicts a person dressed as Charun in the [[Colosseum]], killing people with a hammer, as was believed to have occurred there. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 15:58, 22 September 2006
In Etruscan mythology, Charun, also spelled Charu on Etruscan artifacts (with "Charun" appearing roughly as often) and sometimes spelled Charontes or Caronte in texts from other cultures, was the psychopomp of the underworld known as Aita. His name may have been inspired by Charon from Greek mythology, though he bears much more resemblance to Chaldean demons or the Hindu divinities Shiva and Kali[1].
Appearance
In representation, Charun was fundamentally different from his Greek counterpart. Charun was a large creature with a head wrapped in snakes[citation needed], a vulture's hooked-nose, large tusks like a boar[citation needed], large lips, pointed ears, a black beard, enormous wings[citation needed], discolored skin, and snakes around his arms[citation needed]. He is depicted with a hammer with which he is believed to have bashed the souls of the dead, after guiding them on horseback to the underworld. He is often portrayed with the goddess Vanth. He is the servant of Mantus and Mania, and, in addition to Charon, is comparable to the Greeks' Thanatos, the Erinyes, and the Keres[2].
Behavior
Charun appears to love violence and participating in warfare[citation needed]. The above Etruscan krater depicts Charun with Ajax slaughtering Trojan prisoners. This urn is currently held in Cabinet des Médailles 920, Bibliothéque Nationale, Paris. One relief in particular shows two Charuns swinging their hammers at a person's head, though the head no longer survives in the relief.[3]
Terpening notes that Charun's hammer or mallet is sometimes replaced with an oar, although it does not fit with his duties. Rovin says that some accounts depict him with a sword, and that he "slices" souls with it. He adds that Charun enjoys natural disasters, as well. The Charon of Vergil in the Aeneid is particularly cruel; according to W.F. Jackson Knight[4], "Vergil's Charon is not only the Greek ferryman of Aristophanes [in The Frogs], but more than half his Etruscan self, Charun, the Etruscan torturing death-devil, no ferryman at all."
In contemporary popular culture
In contemporary times, Charun has never been as popular as his Greek counterpart, though there have been some occurences.
- He appears in the poetry of Rachel Blau DuPlessis.
- Charun is Monster in My Pocket #97. Unlike Ancient depictions, he is bald, bulky, appears to be wearing no clothing, and his wings look leathery and lack feathers.
- A reference to Charun in The Tribune's Curse: SPQR VII a 2003 novel by John Maddox Roberts, depicts a person dressed as Charun in the Colosseum, killing people with a hammer, as was believed to have occurred there.
References
There is not a great deal of English-language documentation about Charun. He receives notice in the following sources, and the reportage is mostly the same, though Terpening goes into more depth. Terpening gets his information from the French language writings of Franz de Ruyt: Charun, Démon étrusque de la mort. Rome: Institut Historique Belge, 1934 and his article, "Le Thanatos d'Eutipide et le Charun étrusque." L'Antiquité Classique 1 (1932), 70-73. He also cites Serafino Rocco's Il mito di Caronte nell'arte a nella letteratura, Torino: Clausen, 1897, chapter 4.
- Gimbutas, Marija. The Living Goddesses. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2001.
- Knight, W.F. Jackson. Roman Vergil. 1944. Reprint Middlesex: Penguin, 1966.
- Müller, Carl Ottfried. Ancient Art and Its Remains; or a Manual of the Archæology of Art. Adamant Media Corporation, 2001.
- Rose, Carol. Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins: An Encyclopedia. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1998.
- Rovin, Jeff. The Encyclopedia of Monsters. New York: Facts on File, 1989. p. 50
- Starr, Chester G. A History of the Ancient World. New York: Oxford University Press, USA, 1991.
- Terpening, Ronnie H. Charon and the Crossing: Ancient, Medieval, and Renaissance Transformations of a Myth. Lewisburg, Pennsylvania: Bucknell University Press, 1984.
- Turner, Alice K. The History of Hell. Harvest Books, 1995.
Notes
See also
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