Charon's Obol: Coins for the Roman Afterlife

The Story of Italy: Rome, Renaissance, and the Birth of Modern Europe — Fexingo History · Aug 26, 2026 · 10m · transcript

In this episode of The Story of Italy, Lucas and Luna explore the ancient Roman custom of placing a coin in the mouth of the dead — the 'Charon's obol' — a practice that bridged the worlds of the living and the dead, and reveals surprising truths about Roman religion, social status, and even early Christianity. They trace the custom from its Greek origins to its widespread use across the Roman Empire, examining the archaeological evidence from tombs in Ostia and beyond. Lucas explains the role of Charon, the grim ferryman of the Underworld, and how the practice was both a…