Funeral Customs of theFuneral Customs of the Ancient Greeks Ancient Greeks

•Golden age-1600 B.C. to 529 Golden age-1600 B.C. to 529 A.D.A.D.•Death Beliefs:Death Beliefs:

-Greeks were the first to believe in a -Greeks were the first to believe in a bodily existence under the earth.bodily existence under the earth.-Concept of a shadowy afterlife-Concept of a shadowy afterlife

-To the Greeks death was -To the Greeks death was always always conceived as one of the conceived as one of the harsher lots harsher lots of mankind.of mankind.

-After life was peopled by -After life was peopled by disembodied souls.disembodied souls.

Funeral Customs of theFuneral Customs of the Ancient Greeks Ancient Greeks

-Cremation first appeared during the -Cremation first appeared during the bronze age. bronze age.

-It was believed that the flame set -It was believed that the flame set the the soul free. soul free.

•Cremation:Cremation:

-A belief in disembodied existence -A belief in disembodied existence accounts for the introduction of accounts for the introduction of cremation. cremation.

Funeral Customs of theFuneral Customs of the Ancient Greeks Ancient Greeks

-Cremation=the disposition of -Cremation=the disposition of human remains by exposing them to human remains by exposing them to direct flame or burning them.direct flame or burning them.

•Cremation:Cremation:

Funeral Customs of theFuneral Customs of the Ancient Greeks Ancient Greeks

This process reduces the body to This process reduces the body to core elements-Calcium and Carbon.core elements-Calcium and Carbon.

•Cremation:Cremation:

Modern Cremation Modern Cremation PracticePractice

-Place where the -Place where the cremation process in cremation process in performed.performed.

•Crematory:Crematory:

-Machine that facilitates -Machine that facilitates the cremation process.the cremation process.

•Retort:Retort:

-A decorative or functional -A decorative or functional container that can contain container that can contain the cremated human the cremated human remains for handling or remains for handling or interment.interment.

•Urn:Urn:

-Modern Day -Modern Day Cremation Cremation Practices Practices

Greek Death Beliefs Greek Death Beliefs Cont.Cont.-First to believe in an immortal life. -First to believe in an immortal life.

Cult Cult of Dionysius~(god of wine) of Dionysius~(god of wine) -Elysian Fields-where the union of -Elysian Fields-where the union of the the soul lived with the cult godsoul lived with the cult god-Generally death was considered bad, -Generally death was considered bad, evil, and possibly terrifying as only a evil, and possibly terrifying as only a few made it to the Elysian Fields. few made it to the Elysian Fields.

-Although the afterlife was -Although the afterlife was considered considered bad the Greeks reverenced the dead. bad the Greeks reverenced the dead.

Greek Death Beliefs Greek Death Beliefs Cont.Cont.-Neglect of the dead was condemned -Neglect of the dead was condemned

and was a disqualifying factor when and was a disqualifying factor when running for offices.running for offices.-Burial or Disposition became very -Burial or Disposition became very important for the Greeks, so important for the Greeks, so important important that: that: In battle the Athenians would erect In battle the Athenians would erect pyres on the battlefields and cremate pyres on the battlefields and cremate the bodies of the dead and then the bodies of the dead and then return to family to entomb them.return to family to entomb them.

Greek Death Beliefs Greek Death Beliefs Cont.Cont.-Passage to the Elysian Fields -Passage to the Elysian Fields

required crossing the river Styx, and required crossing the river Styx, and an Obel(coin) was left in the mouth an Obel(coin) was left in the mouth of the dead to pay Cheron (the of the dead to pay Cheron (the ferryman) for transporting you to the ferryman) for transporting you to the afterlife.afterlife.

Greek Death Beliefs Greek Death Beliefs Cont.Cont.--On the other side of the River Styx lies the entrance to the On the other side of the River Styx lies the entrance to the

Elysian Fields/Hades, guarded by Cerberus, a giant three Elysian Fields/Hades, guarded by Cerberus, a giant three headed dog. Past Cerberus are the Elysian Fields, where the headed dog. Past Cerberus are the Elysian Fields, where the majority of the dead lead a dull existence. Cerberus would majority of the dead lead a dull existence. Cerberus would allow souls to enter, but not to exit. With his huge jaws and allow souls to enter, but not to exit. With his huge jaws and serpent tail, he was an image that was fearsome.serpent tail, he was an image that was fearsome.He was the son of the mother of many monsters, Echidna, He was the son of the mother of many monsters, Echidna, and her giant husband Typhon.and her giant husband Typhon.  Charon was the aged ferryman who conveyed all dead souls Charon was the aged ferryman who conveyed all dead souls from the land of the living to the land of the dead. Charon from the land of the living to the land of the dead. Charon waited with his boat at the edge of the river Styx. Since he waited with his boat at the edge of the river Styx. Since he was quite stingy, Charon had to be paid for his services with was quite stingy, Charon had to be paid for his services with the toll (Obel). the toll (Obel).

Greek Journey to Greek Journey to The Elysian The Elysian Fields/HadesFields/Hades

Greek Burial Practices:Greek Burial Practices:•Preparation of the body:Preparation of the body:

-Made by female members of the -Made by female members of the family.family.-Washed the body with warm water -Washed the body with warm water in in order to try to revive it.order to try to revive it.-Laid out and dressed the body.-Laid out and dressed the body.

-Anointed the body with oil, -Anointed the body with oil, perfumes, perfumes, and spices.and spices.-No serious attempt at embalming -No serious attempt at embalming was was made.made.-Flowers were woven into wreaths.-Flowers were woven into wreaths.

Burial Practices Cont.Burial Practices Cont.

-A honey cake was prepared for -A honey cake was prepared for Cerberus, the three headed guardian Cerberus, the three headed guardian dog of the lower region.dog of the lower region.

-Mourning was indicated by dark -Mourning was indicated by dark colors , but the dead were dressed in colors , but the dead were dressed in white.white.

Greek Burial Practices:Greek Burial Practices:•First known Sumptuary Laws:First known Sumptuary Laws:

-Laws passed that prohibited people -Laws passed that prohibited people from being overly extravagant. from being overly extravagant. Passed by Passed by Solon.Solon.-The law decreed that the dead were -The law decreed that the dead were only to be dressed in three burial only to be dressed in three burial robes.robes.-Covering for the funeral bed.-Covering for the funeral bed.

-Corpse shroud-Corpse shroud-An outer covering.-An outer covering.

-Do you think the sumptuary laws -Do you think the sumptuary laws were had a positive or negative were had a positive or negative impact?impact?

Greek Funeral Greek Funeral Procession:Procession:•Started out an hour before dawn Started out an hour before dawn

after the body had been viewed after the body had been viewed the night before.the night before.•The body was carried on a bier The body was carried on a bier by the family, friends, or hired by the family, friends, or hired corpse bearers.corpse bearers.•Any man could go to the Any man could go to the graveside, but only women over graveside, but only women over 60 or blood relatives over 16 60 or blood relatives over 16 could go to the grave.could go to the grave.

Greek Burial Coffins:Greek Burial Coffins:

•Coffins were made of wood, Coffins were made of wood, stone, and baked clay.stone, and baked clay.

-Cypress wood was used often.-Cypress wood was used often.

-Stone was bar far the most popular -Stone was bar far the most popular when burial was performed.when burial was performed.-Because of the weight of the stone -Because of the weight of the stone the body was transported to the the body was transported to the grave on a bier where it was placed grave on a bier where it was placed in a coffin and then in the tomb.in a coffin and then in the tomb.

Greek Tombs:Greek Tombs:

•StelaeStelae or Shafts. or Shafts.•KionesKiones or Columns. or Columns.•TrapazeTrapaze of Square-cut. of Square-cut.•NaidiaNaidia or Temple like or Temple like Structures.Structures.

Greek Tombs:Greek Tombs:

•StelaeStelae--Upright slabs of stone, and Upright slabs of stone, and

other tombs, were often other tombs, were often covered with figures carved in covered with figures carved in bas-relief, finished with bas-relief, finished with painting.painting.

Greek CelebrationsGreek Celebrations of Death:of Death:

•Funeral Feasts broke the fast Funeral Feasts broke the fast that the bereaved had been that the bereaved had been keeping.keeping.•Sacrifices-blood sacrifices at Sacrifices-blood sacrifices at the sepulcher (tomb), then later the sepulcher (tomb), then later turned to sacrifices of food and turned to sacrifices of food and wine and various labintational wine and various labintational mixtures.mixtures.

•Suttee-Self inflicted cremation Suttee-Self inflicted cremation of a Hindu widow in India.of a Hindu widow in India.

Greek CelebrationsGreek Celebrations of Death:of Death:

•Sacrifices sometimes included Sacrifices sometimes included slaves and horses to provide slaves and horses to provide servants in the hereafter.servants in the hereafter.•Sacrifices-later substituted Sacrifices-later substituted with symbols.with symbols.

-Think of the Egyptians -Think of the Egyptians and and the Scarab Beetles.the Scarab Beetles.•As facts grow difficult, symbols As facts grow difficult, symbols tend to replace them.tend to replace them.

Greek CelebrationsGreek Celebrations of Death:of Death:

•Suttee-Self inflicted cremation Suttee-Self inflicted cremation of a Hindu widow in India.of a Hindu widow in India.

Now Lets Look At The Ancient Now Lets Look At The Ancient RomansRomans