Athreos

Athreos is the God of Passage on Theros. In his role of easing the passage from life to death, he is associated with white and black mana.

Description

The shrouded Athreos is the River Guide, the divine ferryman of the dead across the Rivers That Ring the World to the Underworld. Silent, bent, and tattered, he patiently fulfills his role. Athreos is never without his signature staff, a gnarled length of dark wood. When he lays his staff over one of the five Rivers, it becomes a boat to carry the dead.

Athreos cares little for the other gods' conflict with mortals: his primary concern is safe passage for the dead. When he gathers the newly dead to be ferried across the Five Rings, Athreos sends skeletal griffins to fetch those who stray. The custom on Theros is to craft a funerary mask of clay for the newly departed. In this way, the identities of the deceased are "framed" for Athreos, so that he can mark their proper passage. Such masks are broken into shards called ostraka and used as barter in the Underworld.

Ravos was an oracle of Athreos and Kunoros is the guardian dog of the god.

Phyrexian Invasion

During New Phyrexia's Invasion of the Multiverse, the Phyrexians invaded the Underworld, compleating all they touched. However, when they reached the titan Kroxa, the void of its maw obliterated them so thoroughly that no glistening oil remained. Seeing this, Athreos struck the chains binding Kroxa, allowing it to rampage through the Underworld and destroy Phyrexians. To ensure that it didn't escape again, Athreos also sent his hound Kunoros to accompany the titan.

Story appearances

Gallery

• 
  Athreos, God of Passage from Secret Lair Drop Series: Theros Stargazing.

In-game references

Inspiration

The character of Athreos is inspired by Charon, a Greek mythological figure and ferryman to the underworld. The name Athreos may come from the ancient greek term ăthróos meaning "gatherer" or "amasser".

References

External links

• The Magic Creative Team (April 02, 2014). "Planeswalker's Guide to Journey into Nyx". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.