Lethe

The goddess Lethe

Among the five main rivers of the underworld , the river Lethe always remained a mystery.

The term Lethe is a personification for - forgetfulness , oblivion or concealment. This river is known to be milky white in color. The souls which have done good deeds in their life ,, are sent to Elysium where they can drink the waters of  Lethe , forget their past lives and can be reborn with a new life. Though the Lethe's waters make you forget your memories it did not affect one person in particular whose name was-  Aethalides. He was a son of Hermes and one of the Argonauts. Though he drank from the river he was reborn as -Euphorbos, Hermotius, Pyrrhus and then the famous mathematician Pythagoras, yet he remembered his past lives.

The Lethe flow through the Underworld forming a border between the gloomy Fields of Asphodel and the Paradise Elysium. It flows along a cave where the God of Sleep - Hypnos rests. Plants like poppies grow on the banks of the river due to which the seeds of poppies cause drowsiness . The murmuring of the Lethe causes drowsiness and dizziness to a person. One drop of it can cause you a short term memory loss, one cup no way! You wont even remember your name.

Like the other rivers , even Lethe has a goddess called Lethe who is a daughter of Eris (strife) and the sister of Ponos, Limos , Algae, Hysminai , Makhai and Phonoi.