Pennies on your eyes
By agrant10
@agrant10 (1476)
United States
4 responses
@redhotpogo (4401)
• United States
27 Nov 08
some people believe you can take items with you to wherever you go when you die, so they are buried with money, jewels, whatever. there's alot of different beliefs for burying someone with money. however they would be placed in a sack or other container, not on the eyes. putting coins on the eyes is just to keep the eyes closed for viewing.
@redhotpogo (4401)
• United States
28 Nov 08
yeah for real. but nooooo. we gotta bury this dude with enough money to buy himself a new pair of shoes, and a boat ride to somewhere. probably the afterlife mall to buy a pair of new shoes.
@nekkofox (1)
• United States
10 Dec 09
This statement is inaccurate and feeds misinformation to someone who needs the truth, not your ignorant prattle. The Greek custom of placing coins in the eyes of the deceased had nothing to do with keeping the eyes shut, it was so that the soul could pay the toll to Charon so they may cross the river Styx, otherwise they would be doomed to wander for one-hundred years (some say an eternity, it differs from myth to myth). It was also said that Heracles didn't have to pay because he threatened the ferryman, and Orpheus charmed him with his voice.
I would suggest you do some more research next time, or at least read the comments of others before you post lest you come off sounding naive and childish.
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
27 Nov 08
I always thought it was to just keep the eyes closed,, maybe this is not the reason, it would be interesting to know if there is another reason, also why mirrors are covered, it is a very interesting thing...
@agrant10 (1476)
• United States
28 Nov 08
Thanks for responding. Yea, that is what I thought too to keep the eyes close. It looks like it does have a deeper meaning. I do know that they cover the mirror so that the soul will not go into it.
I would like to know why they used to stop the clock?
1 person likes this
@Rustinas1 (438)
• United States
1 Dec 08
I also thought it was just to keep the eyelids down if the person passed away with them open. There are interesting responses here that makes me wonder. I did'nt know that about mirrors either and glad I do now.
@XeroFrozenFs (85)
• Canada
1 Dec 08
The correct answer has already been given to this question :) They would put coins over their eyes so they could pay the toll for the fairy man while crossing to the other side.
