death and burial - myth and religion

what happened on day 1 of a greek funerary procession

preparing the body:

• women were in charge of preparing the body

• body would be washed, anointed with oil, adorned with a wreath and dressed in white clothes

• mouth was sealed with a token or coin as a payment for Charon (ferryman of the dead)

• priests/priestesses were not allowed to enter the house of the deceased, death was seen as a cause of spiritual impurity or pollution

what happened on day 2 of a greek funerary procession

prothesis (laying out the body):

• body laid out for viewing

• placed on a high bed

• kinswomen, in dark robes, stood round the bier

• mother or wife of the deceased was chief mourner

• women led the morning by chanting dirges tearing at their hair and striking their breasts

• friends and relatives came to mourn and pay their respects

what happened on day 3 of a greek funerary procession

ekphora (funeral procession):

• before dawn the funeral procession formed to carry the body to its resting place

• the body was transported by chariot, cart or on foot

• musicians and performers often accompanied this public display

• depending on the wealth of the family, they would often hire people to mourn the dead

where would the body be buried

main cemetery in athens in an area called the kerameikos just outside the city

what would relatives do after death

libations (ritual pouring of a liquid) and offering were often made by a relative followed by a prayer

what would happen after the burial

house and household objects would be cleansed and women related to the dead underwent a ritual washing in clean water

what was the stelai

stone or wooden slabs erected as a monument and has text, picture or both to ensure the deceased would not be forgotten

what was the stele of vespasian, georgia

• located in georgia, 75 AD

• commemorated the fortification of the walls at the city of Armazi

• important historically as it mentions Roman and local leaders

what was the stele of aphrodeisia, daughter of theudotos, demetrias

• located in demetrias, 276-168 BCE

• made of marble

• inscription above says the stele commemorated the daughter of theudotos, aphrodeisia

• includes detailed painting, showing aphrodeisia in an elaborate outfit, seated on a cushion

• her outfit is similar to other terracotta female figurines, may have been a wedding dress

what was the stele of aristonautes, athens

• located in athens, dated 320 BC

• made of marble

• stele is the shape of a temple, with a statue in the middle of aristonautes

• aristonautes is dressed like a hoplite soldier, ready for battle

• inscription above identifies him

how did greeks remember the dead

• funeral feast

• dead man was the host

• feast was a sign of gratitude towards those who took part in burying him

• family would visit the grave at set intervals for up to a year to continue libations and rituals

• mainly women in the family were expected to visit the grave

• after the first year, annual visit would be expected

what was the anthesteria

• happened in january and was 3 days long

• celebrated maturing of wine and celebrated dionysus

what happened on day one of the anthesteria

• dead rose from the underworld and roamed the earth

• wine was poured from the previous year and libations were offered to dionysus

what happened on day 2 of the anthesteria

drinking contests between families and libations poured on the graves of their ancestors

what happened on day three of the anthesteria

• libations offered to hermes

• families cannot eat libations offered on this day

• day the souls would return to the underworld

what was the genesia

• one day festival held in late september

• athenians would decorate the graves with ribbons and offer blood sacrifices in honour of their dead ancestors

• way of remembering the deceased and their lives

how did the romans prepare the body

• the relative would seal the last breath with a kiss

• people would call out the deceased’s name

• body was washed, perfumed and dressed in the finest clothes

• a coin was places on the mouth to pay the ferryman charon

• if the family was wealthy, the body would be placed in the atrium for eight days so that friends and relatives could pay their respects

what was the roman funerary procession

• take place eight days after the death

• involved family, friends, slaves, freedman and musicians

• family members would wear funerary masks of the family ancestors which symbolised that the deceased was accepted by their ancestors in the afterlife

• professional mourners were paid by the wealthy to join the procession, mourning and lamenting the dead

• if the family was extremely wealthy, they could pay for actors to mimic the deceased as they were in life

• the procession went from the house to the burial place, which was outside the city

what were roman funeral clubs

• social clubs set up for the less wealthy members of roman society

• members would pay a monthly fee to join

• often met for meals and gatherings

• when a member died, the club would pay for the funeral and provide mourners to ensure the deceased was not forgotten

• poorer romans were often buried in a niche in a mass tomb

what happened during the roman burial of the body

• the body would be cremated or buried outside the city

• a wealthy person might expect to be buried in the family tomb or individual monument, sometimes a stela was erected to commemorate the deceased person

• romans built their tombs along the roads that led to a town so that the deceased would be remembered

• very rich people were buried in sarcogaphi (stone coffins) which were decorated with scenes from mythological battles and heroes

• to ensure the deceased was not forgotten, a marble bust would be made and placed in the house. the romans believes they turned into mares (deified ancestors) and would leave food and wine for them at their tomb