In mythology, the Acheron River is often referred to as the "river of sorrow" and is one of the five rivers of the Underworld in ancient Greek beliefs. It is typically depicted as a dark, murky river that souls must cross to reach the afterlife. The river is associated with pain and lamentation, symbolizing the sorrow of the deceased. The ferryman Charon is the figure responsible for transporting souls across the Acheron. According to myth, he requires payment, usually in the form of an obol, a small coin placed in the mouth of the deceased. Without this payment, souls would wander the shores of the river for eternity, unable to enter the realm of the dead.