Early Hebrew Funeral Practices

Death Beliefs

HAFD page 34• basar (flesh)

• nefesh (breath)

• Sheol

• 150 BC

Readings Question #1

• Describe how the early Hebrews prepared their dead. What was the preferred method of disposition and when did it take place? Why?

Readings Question #2

HAFD page 35• What were the mourning customs for the

early Hebrews?

Place of Burial

• Tombs: simple, unadorned

• Graves: single chamber (recess graves)sunken grave (stone cover)bench gravetrench grave

Bench Grave

Early Christian Funeral Practices

Death Beliefs

HAFD page 37• Soul: spiritual and immortal• Resurrection• Cremation• “Equality” in Death• Death as “Sleep”• Primitive Burial Customs

Readings Question #3

HAFD page 39• What were the requirements laid down by

early canon law for burial of the dead?

Readings Question #4

HAFD page 40• Among the early Christians, who took charge

of caring for the dead? What was done when death occurred?

Other Christian Funeral Customs

• Early Christians had a tendency to take over the burial practices that were performed in the countries in which Christianity was becoming established.

• washing and anointing• The Wake• Requiem Mass and Holy Communion

Readings Question #5

HAFD page 42• Describe the early Christian funeral procession

and the interment service.

Early Christian Cemeteries

• catacombs: originated in ancient Rome as excavated cemeteries cut out of soft rock for the tombs of wealthy Christians; later became a place for religious rites to avoid persecution”

“The Little Vatican” Catacomb

• 9 popes and 8 dignitaries of Rome’s 3rd century church

“Cubicle of the Sacraments” Catacomb

• 5 small chambers (family tombs) with 3rd century frescoes depicting the sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist

Readings Question #6

HAFD page 45• Describe what influence the 4th century

Christian church had on Christian burial practices.

Funeral Functionaries

• brethren of the dead and clergy• Constantine: state assumed responsibility• Burial parties• After the 4th century, funeral service became

part of the wider operation of an urban-type society.

Ancient Scandinavian Funeral Practices

Readings Question #7(HAFD page 49)

• What were two important themes surrounding cremation in the Ancient Scandinavian tradition?

• “Stone Ships”

Readings Question #8(HAFD page 50)

• Describe the Scandinavian practice of ship burial during the Viking Age in Norway.

Mound Burial

• “ancient Viking custom; after deceased was placed in his boat with items necessary for the spirit to maintain the position held on earth, all was cremated and the pyre then covered with earth”

Influence on Modern Customs

HAFD page 50

• 2 important influences:• 1) soul is liberated from the body using ritual

so it may enter into a spiritual afterlife• 2) fire is seen as cleansing, purifying and an

agent for freeing the soul from the body

Common Elements in Funerary Beliefs of Early Peoples

HAFD page 52

• Death does not end all relationship between the dead and the living but merely signals the transition from one set of relationships to another.