GCSE Classics Myth and Religion: Rome death and burial VOCAB (just Rome)

women of the household

the primary mourners

sarcophagus / sarcophagi

A stone coffin used to put the body (and wooden coffin) in

Hypnos

God of sleep

pompa

Roman Funerary procession

Imagines

Wax funerary masks of the deceased's ancestors worn by the family of the deceased to show their acceptance into the afterlife

Thanatos

god of death

funeral club

Roman social club to help the less wealthy save for funerals

atrium

the room of the Roman house where the body was laid out for mournnig

manes

the Roman 'deified ancestors', spirits of the dead

psychopomp

accompanier of souls to the underworld, Hermes/Mercury

Parentalia

Roman festival in February, 9 days off, Vestal Virgin makes sacrifice then at home people give offerings to dead and have a family meal

Lemuria

Roman festival in May, three days off, people use ritual to ward off evil spirits.

mausoleum

Roman tomb, shows off wealth fo the dead

pyre

stack of wood used for cremation: body goes on top

coins

placed on eyes of Roman dead to allow them to pay Charon

best clothes

what the Romans dressed their dead in

kiss

what the final breath is taken with

ceremonial call

when the dead person's name was called out 3 times after death (Roman)

tearing hair, beating chests

acts of women to show mourning (Greek and Roman)