Ancient Greek Epitaph re Non-Existence of Afterlife

JULY 24, 2011

Do not pass by my epitaph wayfarer,
But stand, listen, and when you have heard, go on your way.
There is no boat in Hades, no ferryman Charon …
All of us who have died and gone below
Are bones and ashes, nothing else.

Ancient Greek epitaph from After Lives: A Guide Heaven, Hell and Purgatory by John Carey quoted in LRB 14 April 2011 p.7.