There is some debate that the River Styx was inspired by a real river in Greece. This would be his undoing, and his greatest weakness, as in the end, Achilles died from an arrow to his heel. This is why we call any weak point an Achilles heel. This made him powerful and able to resist injury, but unfortunately, because she held him by his heel, that part of his body remained vulnerable. Because Achilles was mortal, his mother wanted to make him strong and invincible, so she submerged him in the River Styx. One of the most famous myths about the river is related to Achilles, the great Greek hero. According to a Roman legend, Alexander the Great was poisoned with water from the Styx. The water of the Styx had mystical properties, and in some accounts, it was corrosive to any ship that would try to sail in it. The only way to cross the Styx and enter the underworld was via a ferryboat rowed by the fearsome boatman, Charon. The River Styx was said to be a great black river that bordered the point where the earth and the underworld were connected. In Greek myth, the underworld was surrounded by five rivers. While the River Styx is considered the main river of the underworld, there are others. Styx the River The Five Rivers of the Underworld In keeping with this declaration, Zeus and others swore upon Styx and kept to their word, sometimes with devastating and destructive results. Styx was so highly respected by Zeus that he proclaimed that all oaths should be sworn upon her. For this, Zeus would honor her, allowing her children to live forever by his side. With the help of Styx and the grace of her children, Zeus and the Olympians would become victorious in the war. Styx in the War of TitansĪccording to the myths, the goddess Styx, under her Father’s advice, was the first immortal being to offer her children to Zeus’ cause, when he rose against his father Cronus: Styx lived in a cave in the underworld near her stream, which came from the great Oceanus.īesides being the goddess of oaths and her river, Styx was the personification of hatred on earth. The name styx means shuddering or the hatred of death. Styx was the wife of the Titan Pallas, and together they had four children: Nike, Kratos, Zelus, and Bia. This union made Styx one of their three thousand offspring known as the Oceanids. Styx was the daughter of Tethys and Oceanus, the gods of freshwater. Here’s a closer look at the Styx and why it’s important in Greek mythology.

The River Styx, named after her, was a massive river that encircled the underworld and had to be crossed by all souls on their way to Hades.

In Greek mythology, the deity Styx played a central role in the War of Titans and was so highly respected by both mortals and gods that their unbreakable oaths were sworn upon her.

River styx