Midterm 2 Definitions Flashcards
Ardanion
A bowl of water placed outside the house of the deceased
Chous
A small jug placed in the grave of a very young infant.
Danake (or Naulon)
the boat-fare for Charon as ferryman of the dead
Ekphora
The transport of the body to the cemetery for burial.
Enchytristria
A word of uncertain meaning describing a woman who officiated in some capacity using a pot or “chytra” at the funeral.
Endyma
A shroud
Epiblema
A loose covering placed over the shroud
Epikedeion
A dirge or lament
Epitaphios Logos
A speech delivered in honour of the war dead
Exegetai
Interpreters or expounders of sacred law who give advice regarding the pollution caused by the dead in cases of difficulty such as manslaughter or suicide.
Goos (pronounced go-os)
An improvised lament sung by relatives of the deceased
ialemos
a dirge or lament
Katadesmos
a lead curse tablet placed in the grave in order to bind the living by a spell (literally ‘that which binds down’)
Kedeia
The funeral
Klimakophoros, Nekrophoros, Nekrothaptes, or Tapheus
Corpse-bearer
Kline
Generally any couch but used particularly of the couch on which the corpse was laid out during the prothesis.
Kommos
A formal lament in tragedy
Kosmos
Generally any attire or specifically the attire in which the corpse was laid out during the prothesis
Kterismata
Funeral gifts
Loutra
Sacred water used for religious rituals, including the ceremonial bathing of a bride before a wedding and the washing of the corpse before the prothesis.
Loutrophoros
A very tall vase with a thin body, elongated neck, and wide rim, used for carrying the ‘loutra’; a stone grave marker in the shape of such a vase was placed over the graves of the unmarried dead.
Maschalismos
The mutilation of the corpse of a murdered victim by the murderer in order to render the spirit of the deceased harmless.
Othone
A chin-strap tp prevent the jaws of the dead from sagging open.
Prosphagion (also Prosphagma)
Possibly the name of the sacrifice performed on behalf of the dead before the ekphora set out, but also used of sacrifices at the grave.
Prothesis
The ceremonial laying out of the body on a kline in funeral attire
Stroma
A covering laid over the kline
Threnon exarchoi
Professional mourners (Literally ‘leaders of the dirge’)
Threnos
A formal lament usually sung by professional mourners
Ataphos
One that is left unburied
Aoros
One who dies young
Autocheir
A suicide
Biaiothanatos
A suicide or murderer (literally ‘one who causes death violently’)
Demetrioi
A word used originally of the general dead, it perhaps came to be reserved exclusively for those who had been initiated into the mysteries of Demeter at Eleusis.
Deuteropotmos (or Hysteropotmos)
One who is revived after being declared dead (literally ‘a person with two fates’ or ‘second fated’)
Diobletos
One who was struck by lightning and whose corpse was believed to be sacred (literally ‘smitten by Zeus’)
Makarios (also Makarites)
A word used of the dead with particular reference to the heroized or recent dead (literally ‘blessed’)
Tritophatores
Spirits of the long departed (literally ‘fathers to the third degree’)
