Funeral Customs of the Ancient Greeks Flashcards
Ancient Greek death beliefs. Two thousand years 1600BC to 529AD: Golden age of Mycenae to the closing of the university of _____.
Athens
The belief in a bodily existence under the earth in a kind of underworld was the most ancient beliefs in post death _____.
Existence
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.
Homeric times (700 B.C.)
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
Cremation
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)
In the Cult of Dionysius
Only a select few souls would pass on to everlasting happiness in the ___ ___ (Heaven)
Elysian Fields
Generally the Greek population prior to the Christian influence held a most ______ view on the afterlife; hopelessness and despair prevailed (Fatalism).
Pessimistic
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.
The Law of Athens
This involved washing, dressing, anointing with oil, perfumes and spices, were performed by the females of the family. (no embalming)
Preparation of the Body
Passage to the netherworld required crossing the:
River Styx
A coin called an ____ valued at about three pence was placed in the deceased’s mouth for Caron the ferryman.
Obol
Without the proper preparations, the ____ or soul of the deceased was doomed to wander a hundred years along the shores of the river Styx.
Shade
No serious attempt at _______was made, that is, no evisceration and pickling.
Embalming
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).
Three
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).
Flowers
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.
Fear of Being Buried Alive- Wake- Death Watch
Included with the corpse was a honey cake for the three headed dog _____, guardian of the lower regions.
Cerberus
Lying in state confirmed the person was dead. (Tremendous fear of being buried alive).
Ancient Fear of Premature Burial
Occurred one hour before dawn for the deceased to be set out for the burial.
Procession
- 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)
The Procession Consisted of:
- 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
Cycle of Cremation and/or Earth Burial
At no time was ___ ___ entirely superseded by cremation. Cremains were still interred.
Earth Burial
No _____ of ashes.
Scattering
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).
Germanic
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.
Opposite Concepts of Greek and Egyptian Beliefs
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.
Coffins
Baked in clay canisters
Early Period Coffins
Cypress wood and stone vault like structures.
Later Period Coffins
- Stelae
- Kiones
- Trapezae
- Naidia
Classification of Greek Tombs
Upright slabs of stone; a kind of marker or head stone.
Stelae (Shafts)
A tomb having above ground single or multiple columns.
Kiones (Columns)
Similar to an above ground crypt; single or multiple interments.
Trapezae (Square cut Tomb, Masusoleum)
Owned by one family. Most elaborate of the Greek tombs, small burial building for multiple internments.
Naidia (Temple-like Structure)
A low raised carving on a sculpture. (A raised carving).
Bas-Relief
Wheat (still used today) would be an example of a funeral symbol found on a _____.
Grave
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.
Celebration of Death
It broke the fast that the bereaved had been keeping. This celebration occurred after internment.
Funeral Feast
(Animals) First actual blood sacrifice to the Gods on specified days of the year. Later offerings of food, wine, etc. were used.
Sacrifices
(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)
Suttee
