Funeral Customs of the Ancient Greeks Golden age-1600 B.C. to 529 A.D. Golden age-1600 B.C. to 529 A.D. Death Beliefs: Death Beliefs: -Greeks were the first to believe in a bodily existence under the earth. bodily existence under the earth. -Concept of a shadowy afterlife -To the Greeks death was always conceived as one of the harsher lots of mankind. -After life was peopled by disembodied souls.

Funeral Customs of the Ancient Greeks -Cremation first appeared during the bronze age. bronze age. -It was believed that the flame set the soul free. soul free. Cremation: Cremation: -A belief in disembodied existence accounts for the introduction of cremation.

Funeral Customs of the Ancient Greeks -Cremation=the disposition of human remains by exposing them to direct flame or burning them. Cremation: Cremation:

Funeral Customs of the Ancient Greeks This process reduces the body to core elements-Calcium and Carbon. Cremation: Cremation:

Modern Cremation Practice -Place where the cremation process in performed. Crematory: Crematory: -Machine that facilitates the cremation process. Retort: Retort: -A decorative or functional container that can contain the cremated human remains for handling or interment. Urn: Urn:

-Modern Day Cremation Practices

Greek Death Beliefs Cont. -First to believe in an immortal life. Cult of Dionysius~(god of wine) -Elysian Fields-where the union of the soul lived with the cult god -Generally death was considered bad, evil, and possibly terrifying as only a few made it to the Elysian Fields. -Although the afterlife was considered bad the Greeks reverenced the dead.

Greek Death Beliefs Cont. -Neglect of the dead was condemned and was a disqualifying factor when running for offices. -Burial or Disposition became very important for the Greeks, so important that: In battle the Athenians would erect pyres on the battlefields and cremate the bodies of the dead and then return to family to entomb them.

Greek Death Beliefs Cont. -Passage to the Elysian Fields required crossing the river Styx, and an Obel(coin) was left in the mouth of the dead to pay Cheron (the ferryman) for transporting you to the afterlife.

Greek Death Beliefs Cont. - On the other side of the River Styx lies the entrance to the Elysian Fields/Hades, guarded by Cerberus, a giant three headed dog. Past Cerberus are the Elysian Fields, where the majority of the dead lead a dull existence. Cerberus would allow souls to enter, but not to exit. With his huge jaws and serpent tail, he was an image that was fearsome. He was the son of the mother of many monsters, Echidna, and her giant husband Typhon. Charon was the aged ferryman who conveyed all dead souls from the land of the living to the land of the dead. Charon waited with his boat at the edge of the river Styx. Since he was quite stingy, Charon had to be paid for his services with the toll (Obel). Charon was the aged ferryman who conveyed all dead souls from the land of the living to the land of the dead. Charon waited with his boat at the edge of the river Styx. Since he was quite stingy, Charon had to be paid for his services with the toll (Obel).

Greek Journey to The Elysian Fields/Hades

Greek Burial Practices: Preparation of the body: Preparation of the body: -Made by female members of the family. -Washed the body with warm water in order to try to revive it. order to try to revive it. -Laid out and dressed the body. -Anointed the body with oil, perfumes, and spices. and spices. -No serious attempt at embalming was made. made. -Flowers were woven into wreaths.

Burial Practices Cont. -A honey cake was prepared for Cerberus, the three headed guardian dog of the lower region. -Mourning was indicated by dark colors, but the dead were dressed in white.

Greek Burial Practices: First known Sumptuary Laws: First known Sumptuary Laws: -Laws passed that prohibited people from being overly extravagant. Passed by Solon. -The law decreed that the dead were only to be dressed in three burial robes. -Covering for the funeral bed. -Corpse shroud -An outer covering. -Do you think the sumptuary laws were had a positive or negative impact?

Greek Funeral Procession: Started out an hour before dawn after the body had been viewed the night before. Started out an hour before dawn after the body had been viewed the night before. The body was carried on a bier by the family, friends, or hired corpse bearers. The body was carried on a bier by the family, friends, or hired corpse bearers. Any man could go to the graveside, but only women over 60 or blood relatives over 16 could go to the grave. Any man could go to the graveside, but only women over 60 or blood relatives over 16 could go to the grave.

Greek Burial Coffins: Coffins were made of wood, stone, and baked clay. Coffins were made of wood, stone, and baked clay. -Cypress wood was used often. -Stone was bar far the most popular when burial was performed. -Because of the weight of the stone the body was transported to the grave on a bier where it was placed in a coffin and then in the tomb.

Greek Tombs: Stelae or Shafts. Stelae or Shafts. Kiones or Columns. Kiones or Columns. Trapaze of Square-cut. Trapaze of Square-cut. Naidia or Temple like Structures. Naidia or Temple like Structures.

Greek Tombs: Stelae- Stelae- Upright slabs of stone, and other tombs, were often covered with figures carved in bas-relief, finished with painting.

Greek Celebrations of Death: of Death: Funeral Feasts broke the fast that the bereaved had been keeping. Funeral Feasts broke the fast that the bereaved had been keeping. Sacrifices-blood sacrifices at the sepulcher (tomb), then later turned to sacrifices of food and wine and various labintational mixtures. Sacrifices-blood sacrifices at the sepulcher (tomb), then later turned to sacrifices of food and wine and various labintational mixtures. Suttee-Self inflicted cremation of a Hindu widow in India. Suttee-Self inflicted cremation of a Hindu widow in India.

Greek Celebrations of Death: of Death: Sacrifices sometimes included slaves and horses to provide servants in the hereafter. Sacrifices sometimes included slaves and horses to provide servants in the hereafter. Sacrifices-later substituted with symbols. Sacrifices-later substituted with symbols. -Think of the Egyptians and the Scarab Beetles. As facts grow difficult, symbols tend to replace them. As facts grow difficult, symbols tend to replace them.

Greek Celebrations of Death: of Death: Suttee-Self inflicted cremation of a Hindu widow in India. Suttee-Self inflicted cremation of a Hindu widow in India. Now Lets Look At The Ancient Romans