Spiritfarer The Inspitation

Explaning the inspiration that the game took from Greek Mythology.

Who was Charon.

Charon or Kharon, in Greek mythology is a psychopomp, the ferryman of the Greek underworld. He carries the souls of those who had received the rites of burial across the rivers Acheron and Styx, which separate the worlds of the living and the dead.

FunFacts about Charon:

• He is the son of Erebus and Nyx (Night).
  
• In Greek his name is Χάρων. That means "fierce gaze" or "fiery-eyed". Some believe this refers to his intimidating look, while others think it could be a connection to death's piercing stare.
  
• Unlike Hades, who is a full-fledged god, Charon is considered a daemon (δαίμων)—a supernatural being that isn’t quite a god but still has an important cosmic role.
  
• His job is eternal, and he doesn’t have much free will... He simply does what must be done.
  
• Ancient texts often describe Charon as grumpy and unpleasant.

About The Fare.

According to tradition, the souls of the dead had to pay Charon with a gold or silver coin (usually an obolus), which their relatives placed under their tongue or on their eyes during burial. This was the "fare" to cross the river Acheron and reach the Underworld.
If someone did not have the coin or was not properly buried, their soul would be left to wander the banks of the Acheron for a hundred years, unable to find peace. This belief led the ancient Greeks to place great importance on burial rites, ensuring that their dead would pass properly into the afterlife.

Connecting The Dots. [Metaphors]

As we see Spiritfarer took a lot of inspiration from several elements of Greek Mythology related to Charon and the journey of the souls.Here are some additional connections:

The River as a Passage to the Afterlife

In Greek mythology, souls must cross one of the rivers of the underworld (Acheron, Styx, Lethe, etc.) to reach their final destination. Spiritfarer reinterprets this by making the entire world a vast sea, where Stella guides souls across the waters, much like Charon ferried them over the Acheron. The Everdoor itself can be seen as the "final crossing" akin to entering Hades' realm.

The Fare

Instead of a Golden coin, a Silver one or Obolus, in game we can it Obol.

The Role of the Farer and the Transfer of Duty

In the game, Stella takes over Charon’s role as the new Spiritfarer. This reflects an ancient mythological theme where divine or supernatural roles are passed down, much like how Charon’s duty is eternal. The fact that Charon greets Stella at the beginning of the game and then disappears is a symbolic "passing of the torch."

The Concept of Unburied or Lost Souls

In mythology, souls who were not properly buried (and thus could not pay Charon) were left to wander the shores of the Acheron. Similarly, in Spiritfarer, Stella helps spirits who are lost, guiding them to find peace before they can pass through the Everdoor. Some spirits struggle with unresolved trauma or regrets, much like ghosts or shades in Greek myths who linger until their affairs are settled.

The Everdoor as a Symbol of the Gates of Hades

The Everdoor is the final passage for souls, much like the gates of Hades, which only the dead could enter. In mythology, once a soul crossed, they could not return—just as spirits in the game never come back after passing through the Everdoor.

The Multiple Rivers of the Underworld & Lethe (Forgetfulness)

In some interpretations, different souls went to different destinations based on their past lives. One key river, Lethe, was known as the river of forgetfulness, and souls who drank from it would lose their memories before reincarnation. Some spirits in Spiritfarer slowly forget parts of their past as they come to terms with moving on, reflecting this idea.

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I will try to update or edit more this "guide" when i have time! This took a while so i have you like it...Thanks for reading 🌼

[SAGAPAW]

Wow good one