8. death and burial
greek
● what is miasma?
○ pollution that comes from death
preparation of the body
● idea of burial
○ proper burial regardless of social status or wealth
○ being unburied was a cruel punishment
● unburied source
○ Sophocles, Antigone
○ Homer, Iliad
● who made the preparations?
○ women over 60 and relatives
● how was the body positioned?
○ feet facing the door
○ eyes and mouth closed
● how was the body prepared?
○ body washed, perfumed
○ wrapped in white shroud
○ Charon's obol in mouth
■ payment for safe passage across Styx (ferry in Underworld)
● what is prosthesis?
○ when the deceased would be laid out for two days to receive mourners
● what was there to prevent miasma?
○ bowl of water to wash as they left
● what is the lament?
○ a passionate expression of grief or sorrow
● who would lament?
○ women - mother or wife at the head of procession
● what are examples of things they would do for lament?
○ cut hair, dress in black, wail, beat chests, flail arms
● what did they sing?
○ dirges - funeral song
funeral procession
● what is ekphora?
○ funeral procession
● when did ekphora take place?
○ before dawn on the third day
● who was involved in the procession?
○ men, women, children, aulos player
● how was the deceased carried?
, ○ carried by wagon or pallbearers (if rich and short distance)
burial of the body
● where would the body be buried and why?
○ outside of the city
○ removes miasma and disease
● what was Kerameikos?
○ main burial ground in Athens
● what were the two ways a body could be prepared?
○ burial or cremation
● how was the body prepared in cremation?
○ funeral pyre
○ ash collected in urn for family, placed in a shrine or grave
● what would the family leave at the grave?
○ burial gifts for assistance in the afterlife or food for journey
● what was a stele, what did they represent and who would have one?
○ stone slabs with patterns or images carved into them
○ displayed wealth and status of the rich
○ showed remembrance
● what would be shown on a stele?
○ shows the deceased usually sitting, clasping the hand of a standing survivor (spouse
and/or child)
aftermath
● what happens after the burial?
○ sacrifice - blood of the victim on earth for Hades and Persephone
● what was offered?
○ lock of hair, khoai, libations
○ enagismata - milk, honey, water, wine
● what happens at the funeral feast and what is it called?
○ perideipnon
○ dead man as host
○ a sign of gratitude towards those who took part in burying him
● how long does mourning last?
○ 30 days
● what days were the family obliged to visit the grave?
○ 3rd, 9th, 13th days, then annually
greek
● what is miasma?
○ pollution that comes from death
preparation of the body
● idea of burial
○ proper burial regardless of social status or wealth
○ being unburied was a cruel punishment
● unburied source
○ Sophocles, Antigone
○ Homer, Iliad
● who made the preparations?
○ women over 60 and relatives
● how was the body positioned?
○ feet facing the door
○ eyes and mouth closed
● how was the body prepared?
○ body washed, perfumed
○ wrapped in white shroud
○ Charon's obol in mouth
■ payment for safe passage across Styx (ferry in Underworld)
● what is prosthesis?
○ when the deceased would be laid out for two days to receive mourners
● what was there to prevent miasma?
○ bowl of water to wash as they left
● what is the lament?
○ a passionate expression of grief or sorrow
● who would lament?
○ women - mother or wife at the head of procession
● what are examples of things they would do for lament?
○ cut hair, dress in black, wail, beat chests, flail arms
● what did they sing?
○ dirges - funeral song
funeral procession
● what is ekphora?
○ funeral procession
● when did ekphora take place?
○ before dawn on the third day
● who was involved in the procession?
○ men, women, children, aulos player
● how was the deceased carried?
, ○ carried by wagon or pallbearers (if rich and short distance)
burial of the body
● where would the body be buried and why?
○ outside of the city
○ removes miasma and disease
● what was Kerameikos?
○ main burial ground in Athens
● what were the two ways a body could be prepared?
○ burial or cremation
● how was the body prepared in cremation?
○ funeral pyre
○ ash collected in urn for family, placed in a shrine or grave
● what would the family leave at the grave?
○ burial gifts for assistance in the afterlife or food for journey
● what was a stele, what did they represent and who would have one?
○ stone slabs with patterns or images carved into them
○ displayed wealth and status of the rich
○ showed remembrance
● what would be shown on a stele?
○ shows the deceased usually sitting, clasping the hand of a standing survivor (spouse
and/or child)
aftermath
● what happens after the burial?
○ sacrifice - blood of the victim on earth for Hades and Persephone
● what was offered?
○ lock of hair, khoai, libations
○ enagismata - milk, honey, water, wine
● what happens at the funeral feast and what is it called?
○ perideipnon
○ dead man as host
○ a sign of gratitude towards those who took part in burying him
● how long does mourning last?
○ 30 days
● what days were the family obliged to visit the grave?
○ 3rd, 9th, 13th days, then annually
