Charon at The Louvre, Paris

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Charon, the ferryman of Hades, skillfully carries spirits of the newly deceased across the river Styx and Acheron, dividing the world of the living from the realm of the dead. Crafted by Charles-Francois Hutin in 1744 for the Royal Academy, a stunning marble sculpture showcases Charon's duties. To pay Charon for passage, an obolus or danake coin was often placed in or on a deceased person's mouth. Those who couldn't afford the fee or were left unburied had to wander the shores for one hundred years, according to some accounts. In the catabasis mytheme, heroes like Heracles, Orpheus, Aeneas, Theseus, Sisyphus, Dionysus, Odysseus, and Psyche journeyed to the underworld, returning alive on Charon's boat. This remarkable object is part of "Scan The World," a non-profit initiative created by MyMiniFactory that aims to build a digital archive of 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the world for public access. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can help.