OVERVIEW
A must for foreigners arriving in the city and citizens about to start a trip, the temple of Athreos stands as an altar where the bodies of the most illustrious citizens and heroes of Meletis are laid to rest before the cremation or burial rites are performed. In the cases of the greatest, the enormous altar is even used as a funeral pyre.
The temple is raised on a platform with access from a staircase where pilgrims usually kneel in search of the favor of Athreos for a passage without suffering to the other side. The base is covered with images of different golden masks representing all kinds of people, from beggars to kings. On the platform a huge altar covered by a small temple of four thick columns serves as the center of the rituals, of exclusive access to the priests and the deceased who are brought here.
It is customary to leave as offerings copper coins on the stairs of the temple so that the priests of Athreos can facilitate the poorest deceased to pay the god in the transit of death. The priests go from here to fetch the recently deceased to their homes. In silent procession with their relatives to the temple, they perform the relevant rites and finally carry the corpse to the gates of the necropolis where the priests of Erebos receive them before burying them.
Location Description
Outside
The Temple of Athreos, a solemn and revered site in Meletis, emerges as a place of final honor and farewell. The structure, raised on an elevated platform, is accessed by a grand staircase where pilgrims kneel, seeking the deity's favor for a peaceful passage to the afterlife. The base of the temple is adorned with golden masks representing all walks of life, shimmering softly in the light. The air around the temple is heavy with a sense of solemnity, and the faint sound of murmured prayers and weeping echoes softly. The touch of cool stone underfoot on the staircase, coupled with the sight of copper coins left as offerings, creates a tangible connection to the countless souls who have ascended these steps.
Inside
Inside the Temple of Athreos, the atmosphere is one of hushed reverence. The huge altar, surrounded by four thick columns under the small temple structure, stands solemnly as the focal point for the ritual of passage. The scent of ceremonial incense fills the air, mingling with the subtle aroma of burning wood from the funeral pyres. The priests move quietly and respectfully, performing their sacred duties with a palpable sense of devotion. The soft rustle of their robes and the gentle cadence of their chants add to the temple's solemn and sacred feel. Here, the final journey of Meletis' most illustrious citizens and heroes is honored, their bodies laid to rest before being carried in silent procession to the necropolis, where the priests of Erebos await to complete their burial rites.
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