Research Files: The River Lethe

Disclaimer: I am not a myths scholar. I am simply interested in myths and how they shape human behavior and stories. The post below is a synthesis of my research about the River Lethe and my personal thoughts and should not be taken as verified fact, though I have done my best to ensure its accuracy. My sources are included at the end of the post.

What is the River Lethe?

In Greek mythology, River Lethe was one of the five rivers that flowed through the Underworld. Some Greeks believe that after death, a person would drink from the river in order to forget their past life and clear their soul for rebirth/reincarnation to a new life. The river was often associated with the Greek spirit of forgetfulness and oblivion, also named Lethe.

A separate religion in Greece, thought to be associated with Orpheus, mentioned another river that ran parallel to River Lethe, called Mnemosyne. In this tradition, the dead would choose which river to drink from. If they drank from River Lethe, they would be reincarnated without memories. If they chose Mnemosyne, they would retain their memories and not be reincarnated. Instead they would attain omniscience.

Forgetfulness and Rebirth

The River Lethe is an interesting study in the power of forgetting. People talk about a “clean slate” as a second chance, as if erasing past transgressions clears a path to goodness ahead. But is that true?

The past can be a strong driver of decision-making. Without the knowledge of how certain decisions turned out, we open ourselves to the opportunity to make the same mistakes. But we also give ourselves the chance to make new choices, unencumbered by predisposition or expectation.

Past knowledge can inform our decisions. But if we hold too closely to it, we may develop tunnel vision, going down the same road again and again without the ability to notice other opportunities.

Can we truly only be reborn if we let go completely of who we used to be? Or is there room for change within the confines of our current existence?

How to Use the River Lethe Myth as Inspiration

Here are a few questions to get you started using the River Lethe myth as inspiration in your own stories.

Does your society believe in an afterlife? If so, how does it work?

Does your character believe in reincarnation or multiple lives? How does that shape how they interact with the world?

How does the natural world impact a character’s existence?

What lengths would a character go to in order to forget something that happened to them? (This one makes think about the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)

Do people remember their past lives? Could they, with the right tools? (Like in Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Have other thoughts about the Lethe myth or myths from other cultures that explore reincarnation? Add a comment or send me a message at author@kierstenlillis.com. I’d love to chat more! And make sure you’re signed up for my newsletter so you don’t miss more myths and research!