Who was the ferryman of the Styx?

Charon is the ferryman of the Styx in Greek mythology, known for transporting the souls of the deceased across the river Styx to the afterlife in the underworld. He is often depicted as a grim and silent figure who required payment for his services, typically in the form of an obol, a small coin that the deceased would have placed in their mouth for their journey. This aspect of Charon emphasizes the ancient belief in the importance of proper burial rites and payment to ensure safe passage for souls.

In contrast, Hades is the god of the underworld and the ruler of the dead, but he does not serve as the ferryman. Hermes is the messenger of the gods and also guides souls to the afterlife, playing a different role than that of Charon. Thanatos is the personification of death itself, not specifically involved in ferrying souls. Therefore, Charon stands out as the rightful ferryman who performs the specific task of guiding souls across the Styx.