Death and Funerals

Question 1

How were masks used at funerals?

Answer 1

• worn by family member who most resembled dead person
• worn at funeral procession
• respectful to dead person

Question 2

Why were bodies not allowed to be buried inside the city?

Answer 2

• To stop the smell / infection from growing
• fear of ghosts
• lack of space
• burial inside city was sacrilege

Question 3

Do you think Romans showed respect to the dead?

YES

Answer 3

• tried to catch last breath
• body washed and anointed
• dressed in finest clothes
• coin to pay passage to Underworld
• put ono display in atrium
• large funeral procession
• hired mourners
• expensive tomb

Question 4

Do you think Romans showed respect to the daed?

NO

Answer 4

• the poor were thrown in communal pits
• poor were buried at night
• lack of respect for tombs
• weren’t buried at/near home due to fear of ghost

Question 5

Death

Answer 5

• Grief was expressed openly - there was a flask to measure widows tears
• catch dead persons final breath with kiss
• placed on special couch in atrium
• surrounded by flowers, wreaths and candles

Question 6

What was placed in front of the house and why?

Answer 6

Branches of pine or cypress to tell passers-by f death