Funeral Customs of the Ancient Greeks

Question 1

Ancient Greek death beliefs. Two thousand years 1600BC to 529AD: Golden age of Mycenae to the closing of the university of _____.

Answer 1

Athens

Question 2

The belief in a bodily existence under the earth in a kind of underworld was the most ancient beliefs in post death _____.

Answer 2

Existence

Question 3

The above ground belief gave way to the concept of a shadowy afterlife (under the earth) populated by disembodied souls.

• A belief uncommon to ancient Mediterranean people.

Answer 3

Homeric times (700 B.C.)

Question 4

The practice of ______ began to appear in the north about 1,000 B.C. and gradually moved southward and by 700 B.C. because the dominant form of disposition.

• The influence is traced to Germanic barbaric central European tribes

Answer 4

Cremation

Question 5

For the first time, the concept of the soul separaing from the body appears in Greek cultural history. Only the soul joins the God. (Dionysius, God of Wine)

Answer 5

In the Cult of Dionysius

Question 6

Only a select few souls would pass on to everlasting happiness in the ___ ___ (Heaven)

Answer 6

Elysian Fields

Question 7

Generally the Greek population prior to the Christian influence held a most ______ view on the afterlife; hopelessness and despair prevailed (Fatalism).

Answer 7

Pessimistic

Question 8

Required the burial of all, including the corpse of strangers. The cremains of fallen soliders were returned after battle for a mass interment in Athens.

Answer 8

The Law of Athens

Question 9

This involved washing, dressing, anointing with oil, perfumes and spices, were performed by the females of the family. (no embalming)

Answer 9

Preparation of the Body

Question 10

Passage to the netherworld required crossing the:

Answer 10

River Styx

Question 11

A coin called an ____ valued at about three pence was placed in the deceased’s mouth for Caron the ferryman.

Answer 11

Obol

Question 12

Without the proper preparations, the ____ or soul of the deceased was doomed to wander a hundred years along the shores of the river Styx.

Answer 12

Shade

Question 13

No serious attempt at _______was made, that is, no evisceration and pickling.

Answer 13

Embalming

Question 14

No more than ____ burial robes could be used (sumptuary laws). One to cover the funeral bier, and two to cover the deceased. These robes were white. (Bier or bed, transported/carried to the grave. The casket sits on a bier today).

Answer 14

Three

Question 15

The use of _____, woven into wreaths, were funished for the dead by relatives and friends of the deceased. (Greeks were one of the first cultures to use these).

Answer 15

Flowers

Question 16

The deceased was placed in a state in his or her own home for as long as seven days, depending upon the prestige of the deceased.

Answer 16

Fear of Being Buried Alive- Wake- Death Watch

Question 17

Included with the corpse was a honey cake for the three headed dog _____, guardian of the lower regions.

Answer 17

Cerberus

Question 18

Lying in state confirmed the person was dead. (Tremendous fear of being buried alive).

Answer 18

Ancient Fear of Premature Burial

Question 19

Occurred one hour before dawn for the deceased to be set out for the burial.

Answer 19

Procession

Question 20

• The deceased on the bier carried by corpse bearers, often hired.
• Female blood relations over 16 years old, or any female acquaintance over 60 years old could participate (very few lived to be 60)
• Fraternity members (by occupation, guilds later in Europe) and any male who wished to participate.
• Hired dirge singers (screaming and wailing)

Answer 20

The Procession Consisted of:

Question 21

• Prior to 1,000 B.C.- Earth burial
• 1,000 B.C. to the time of Christ, cremation (because the Germanic influence)
• By 500 A.D., a return to earth burial. Greech under Christian influence

Answer 21

Cycle of Cremation and/or Earth Burial

Question 22

At no time was ___ ___ entirely superseded by cremation. Cremains were still interred.

Answer 22

Earth Burial

Question 23

No _____ of ashes.

Answer 23

Scattering

Question 24

The _____ concept in the power of the flame to set the soul free acted as a stong impetus to the practice of cremation- the death watch or wake, that is lying in state, followed by the funeral procession during the height of cremation, was till intact. (wake, procession, internment or cremation).

Answer 24

Germanic

Question 25

There was no connection between Greek and Egyptian death beliefs (there were opposite concepts).

• Greek- Shade or soul separated from the body.
• Egypt- Reanimation- soul would reunite with the restored, preserved body.

Answer 25

Opposite Concepts of Greek and Egyptian Beliefs

Question 26

Were actually grave liners or crude vaults, placed under or above the earth. The deceased was seldom transported to the grave in one of these but rather on a bier. Most of these were interred; only the wealthy had one of these entombed.

Answer 26

Coffins

Question 27

Baked in clay canisters

Answer 27

Early Period Coffins

Question 28

Cypress wood and stone vault like structures.

Answer 28

Later Period Coffins

Question 29

• Stelae
• Kiones
• Trapezae
• Naidia

Answer 29

Classification of Greek Tombs

Question 30

Upright slabs of stone; a kind of marker or head stone.

Answer 30

Stelae (Shafts)

Question 31

A tomb having above ground single or multiple columns.

Answer 31

Kiones (Columns)

Question 32

Similar to an above ground crypt; single or multiple interments.

Answer 32

Trapezae (Square cut Tomb, Masusoleum)

Question 33

Owned by one family. Most elaborate of the Greek tombs, small burial building for multiple internments.

Answer 33

Naidia (Temple-like Structure)

Question 34

A low raised carving on a sculpture. (A raised carving).

Answer 34

Bas-Relief

Question 35

Wheat (still used today) would be an example of a funeral symbol found on a _____.

Answer 35

Grave

Question 36

Inside tombs and sometimes inside the coffin were placed practical and artistic ornaments, jewels, vessels, wreaths, painted vases, articles of toilet, war (spears-knives-swords), and play.

Answer 36

Celebration of Death

Question 37

It broke the fast that the bereaved had been keeping. This celebration occurred after internment.

Answer 37

Funeral Feast

Question 38

(Animals) First actual blood sacrifice to the Gods on specified days of the year. Later offerings of food, wine, etc. were used.

Answer 38

Sacrifices

Question 39

(Not widely practiced) The slaughter of slaves and animals to accompany the deceased in the afterlife. The most extreme form in Hindu India where the wife and concubines are sacrificed. (This ritual was brought back by conquering armies)

Answer 39

Suttee