Greek Death & Burial

Was everyone treated with respect?

Was everyone treated with respect?

Yes, no matter status or wealth they received a proper burial

What are the 5 parts of the funeral ritual

1. Preparation of the body

2. Prothesis and lament

3. Ekphora

4. Burial/Cremation

5. Mourning period

What did they do to prepare the dead body?

• close their eyes and mouth

• wash and perfume their body

• wrap in a long white shroud

• place coin in mouth for the boatman

describe the prothesis and lament?

• Prothesis was a 2 day period where the body was laid for mourners to pay their respects

• the lament was a passionate expression of grief where women would wear black, cut their hair, and beat their chests

What happened during the ekphora (funeral procession)

• The ekphora was a funeral procession from their house to the burial site

• depending on their wealth they would either be carried by a wagon or by pallbearers

• procession included family and musicians

Describe the burial of the body

• bodies were buried outside the city to avoid religious pollution and disease

• an example of a burial site is Kerameikos

• the body was either buried or cremated

• cremations involved a pyre, then the ashes were put in an urn

• The family would add burial gifts

• If the family is rich would have a stele