Midterm 2 Definitions

Question 1

Ardanion

Answer 1

A bowl of water placed outside the house of the deceased

Question 2

Chous

Answer 2

A small jug placed in the grave of a very young infant.

Question 3

Danake (or Naulon)

Answer 3

the boat-fare for Charon as ferryman of the dead

Question 4

Ekphora

Answer 4

The transport of the body to the cemetery for burial.

Question 5

Enchytristria

Answer 5

A word of uncertain meaning describing a woman who officiated in some capacity using a pot or “chytra” at the funeral.

Question 6

Endyma

Answer 6

A shroud

Question 7

Epiblema

Answer 7

A loose covering placed over the shroud

Question 8

Epikedeion

Answer 8

A dirge or lament

Question 9

Epitaphios Logos

Answer 9

A speech delivered in honour of the war dead

Question 10

Exegetai

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Goos (pronounced go-os)

Answer 11

An improvised lament sung by relatives of the deceased

Question 12

ialemos

Answer 12

a dirge or lament

Question 13

Katadesmos

Answer 13

a lead curse tablet placed in the grave in order to bind the living by a spell (literally ‘that which binds down’)

Question 14

Kedeia

Answer 14

The funeral

Question 15

Klimakophoros, Nekrophoros, Nekrothaptes, or Tapheus

Answer 15

Corpse-bearer

Question 16

Kline

Answer 16

Generally any couch but used particularly of the couch on which the corpse was laid out during the prothesis.

Question 17

Kommos

Answer 17

A formal lament in tragedy

Question 18

Kosmos

Answer 18

Generally any attire or specifically the attire in which the corpse was laid out during the prothesis

Question 19

Kterismata

Answer 19

Funeral gifts

Question 20

Loutra

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

Loutrophoros

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Maschalismos

Answer 22

The mutilation of the corpse of a murdered victim by the murderer in order to render the spirit of the deceased harmless.

Question 23

Othone

Answer 23

A chin-strap tp prevent the jaws of the dead from sagging open.

Question 24

Prosphagion (also Prosphagma)

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

Prothesis

Answer 25

The ceremonial laying out of the body on a kline in funeral attire

Question 26

Stroma

Answer 26

A covering laid over the kline

Question 27

Threnon exarchoi

Answer 27

Professional mourners (Literally ‘leaders of the dirge’)

Question 28

Threnos

Answer 28

A formal lament usually sung by professional mourners

Question 29

Ataphos

Answer 29

One that is left unburied

Question 30

Aoros

Answer 30

One who dies young

Question 31

Autocheir

Answer 31

A suicide

Question 32

Biaiothanatos

Answer 32

A suicide or murderer (literally ‘one who causes death violently’)

Question 33

Demetrioi

Answer 33

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.

Question 34

Deuteropotmos (or Hysteropotmos)

Answer 34

One who is revived after being declared dead (literally ‘a person with two fates’ or ‘second fated’)

Question 35

Diobletos

Answer 35

One who was struck by lightning and whose corpse was believed to be sacred (literally ‘smitten by Zeus’)

Question 36

Makarios (also Makarites)

Answer 36

A word used of the dead with particular reference to the heroized or recent dead (literally ‘blessed’)

Question 37

Tritophatores

Answer 37

Spirits of the long departed (literally ‘fathers to the third degree’)