Death + Burial: GREEK Flashcards
What happened once a greek died?
Body washed + perfumed, wrapped in long white shroud, coin placed on mouth.
Why was a coin placed on the mouth?
As a payment to Charon, the boatmen who ferried the dead from the living land to the land of the dead.
What was the prothesis in greek burials?
When the body was laid out for two days to receive mourners.
During the prothesis why was a bowl of water laid out?
Because death would ‘fill the house’ so the bowl of water was to wash people as they left.
What is a lament and who would do it?
Women of the household would lament. Lamenting is a passionate expression of grief and sorrow.
How did one lament?
They would cut their hair, dress in shabby black clothing and wail beside the deceased beating their chest and flailing their arms.
GREEK: what was the Elephora and when did it take place?
Before dawn on the third day the procession took place - taking the body from the home to the burial place.
How were the bodies carried?
Wagon or pallbearers.
Who took part in the procession?
Men, women and children of the family with an aulos player.
Why were burials outside the city?
So no religious pollution or diseases could reach the city.
What was the main Greek burial ground and where was it?
Keraneikos - outside the north west walls of Athens.
What happened when a body reached the burial ground?
It was either buried or cremated.
What happened during a cremation?
A pyre would be built, body on top. Then it would be lit.
what happened after a cremation?
The ash would be collected in an urn and given to the family to be placed in a shrine or grave, along with gifts.
What kind of gifts would the family give the body?
Food for the journey or other important gifts for their deceased life.
What was a stele?
A slab of stone with patterns or images on to ensure they were remembered. - monument of the dead.
Did everyone have a stele?
Only wealthy families.
Who made the stele?
The family would employ a sculptor.
What would the sculptor carve?
Something that reflected the deceased’s life.
Why else would a family want a stele?
To reflect the wealth or status of a family.
What would be used as a sacrifice once the body was buried? And who to?
The blood of the deceased would be poured on the grave as a sacrifice to Hades + Persephone.
What was the period of mourning?
a 30 day period of mourning for the body and occasionally visiting the grave.
What days would they visit the grave in the period of mourning?
3, 9 and 13.
Once the period of mourning had ended when did they visit the grave?
annually.
What happened if a stele was damaged or overgrown?
The memory of the deceased was damaged.
What was the Anthestria?
A greek festival for Dionysus and the dead, to celebrate the maturing of wine.
When did the Anthestria take place?
late January early February.
what happened on day 1 of the Anthestria?
Dead returned from the Underworld, wine was opened from the previous year and libations were poured as an offering.
What are libations?
Pouring drink on the ground as an offering.
what happened on day 2 of the Anthestria?
Drinking competitions occurred and libations were poured for ancestors on their graves.
what happened on day 3 of the Anthestria?
Families made offerings to Hermes, then the living didn’t eat the food of the offerings.
Why did the greeks not eat the offerings after it had been sacrificed to Hermes?
Because that marked the end of the festival and the dead wen back to the Underworld.
Why did the Greeks sacrifice to Hermes during the Anthestria?
Because he could visit the underworld like Dionysus.
Name the two Greek festivals?
Anthestria and Genesia.
When did Genesia take place?
One day in late September.
What would Greeks do during the Genesia?
The Athenians would decorate the graves of the deceased with ribbons and offer food and blood sacrifices in honour.
