River
From Srafopedia
A river is a natural waterway that conveys water, derived from either precipitation or glacial meltwater, from higher ground to lower ground. Most commonly rivers flow on the surface but there are many examples of underground rivers where the flow is contained within chambers, caves or caverns. In some areas of highly variable rainfall, some rivers exist that carry water only occasionally and may be dry for several years at a time.
An example of a river in the His Dark Materials Series is the Yenisei River.
Symbological Relevance in His Dark Materials
A river has been a mythological barrier between one place and another since hundreds of years BC. It is said that the dead cannot cross running water- specifically rivers- and so in Ancient Greek mythology the underworld, or Hades, was barriered by the River Styx, and a soul could only cross the river via a boat, rowed by Charon. This is particularly relevant to the His Dark Materials series, as the Land of the Dead is also barriered by a river. The boatman that informs Will and Lyra that Pan must be left behind does not, however, have a name within the books.
