"What beliefs did the ancient Greeks have about life after death. In your opinion have these beliefs had any influence on modern thinking about life after death.".
There were many different beliefs, theories and ideas within Greek culture as to what happened to someone once they died. The most dominant of these numerous beliefs was Hades. Legend has it that Hades, one of the brothers of the King of the Gods, Zeus was appointed with the job of being King of the dead. The Greeks believed Hades ruled the "underworld" the land, which you inhabited once you died. Other such possibilities were that after death you transformed into stars, being absorbed into the upper atmosphere, others believed in the re-incarnation cycle, while others thought your soul lived on in another place, amongst these places being the Isle of the Blest and the Elysium Fields. These examples are just a handful of the explanations the Greeks gave to the afterlife.
It is doubtless the Greeks were fascinated by death, and glorified it in such a way that would disgust modern societies. They paraded funerals and spent their lives living for their death. This could be because they expected a better life once they"d lived on earth, weather they returned to earth again in another form was debatable, but it was not unusual for people to spend their lives working hard to afford a spectacular funeral.
According to Greek Mythology Hades ruled the underworld with his reluctant wife Persephanie, his kingdom was said to have been guarded by Cerberus; a three-headed beast who kept the living out and the dead in. Before souls could enter his kingdom they were taken down by Hermes and had to cross the river Styx. Their fare was paid to Charon who rode them across by a silver Obal coin, which was placed in their mouths once they died. Sailors who were away from home had their fare in the form of a silver earring. Those who did not have the Obal were sentenced to walk the shores aimlessly for all eternity tormented.
