Death and Burial(Greece) Flashcards
What were the key stages of a Greek burial
-Preparation of the body
-Funerary procession
-Burial of the body
What were the Greeks views on death and burial
It was very important, everyone should be treated with respect and deserved a proper burial
What did they do to the body in the preparation stage
-Deceased persons eyes and mouth were closed
-The body was washed, perfumed and wrapped in a long white shroud
What was placed in the body’s mouth and why
A coin was placed in their mouth to pay the ferryman Charon
What happened to the body after the preparations and how long did it last for
The prothesis(laying out) lasted two days, bowl placed outside house
Why was a bowl placed outside the house
To remove pollution
What would women do to grieve
They would lament; cut their hair, dress in black, sceam
What was the funerary procession called and when did it start
The ekphora took place before dawn on the third day
What would the deceased be carried in
Depending on wealth, they would be carried by wagon or pallbearers
Who did the ekphora include
Family and an aulous(flute) player
Where was the final resting place for the body
Outside the city
Why was the body placed outside the city
-Remove chance of religious pollution
-Reduced spread of disease
Where was the main burial place in Athens
Kerameikos, outside northwest walls
What two ways was the body treated
Buried or cremated
What would the family do to assist their journey to the underworld
Add burial gifts to the stele/tomb
What happened if the body was cremated
A pyre would be build and the deceased laid on top
What is a stele
Steel slabs used as tombstones
What was a stele’s purpose
Momentum for the dead for remembrance
What happened once deceased had been buried
A sacrifice took place
Who was the sacrifice to after a burial
Hades and Persophone
How long was the period of mourning
30 days
Why were festivals for the dead celebrated
So their memory is maintainted
What would happen if a grave was damaged
The memory of the person is damaged
Name 2 festivals for the dead
Anthesteria and Genesia
When did the anthesteria take place and how long did it last
January, lasted 3 days
What did the anthesteria celebrate
Maturing of wine
Who was the anthesteria dedicated to
Dionysus
What did the Greeks believe happen on the first day of the anthesteria
The dead rose from the dead and roamed the earth
What did the Greeks do on the second day of the anthesteria
Families would pour libations on graves to their ancestors
What did the Greeks do on the last day of the anthesteria
Families would make offering to Hermes
What were the Greeks not allowed to do last day of the anthesteria
Not allowed to eat the food given to the dead
When did the genesia take place
In September
What would the Athenians do in the genesia
Decorate graves of the deceased with ribbons, and offer food
What is lamenting
A passionate expression of grief of the sorrow
