noun
- a spiritual guide or conductor of souls, especially one who leads the dead to the afterlife
Usage: often used in mythology, religion, and literature; from Greek psyche (soul) and pompos (guide)
Examples
- In Greek mythology, Hermes served as a psychopomp, guiding souls to the underworld.
- The angel was depicted as a psychopomp in the religious painting, leading the deceased to heaven.
- Many cultures have psychopomp figures in their spiritual traditions.
- The shaman acted as a psychopomp during the funeral ceremony.
- Charon, the ferryman, is one of the most famous psychopomps in classical mythology.
- The novel portrays the protagonist as a psychopomp helping lost spirits find peace.