1.7 Death and Burial

Greece

The prosthesis (p. 118)

This was the first stage of the burial preparation. Click here to see a vase showing the scene. The vase is believed to be Etruscan in origin. 

The ekphora

The ekphora and care of the grave were important parts of caring for the dead. Click here to watch a reconstruction of a Greek funeral.

Graves (p. 118)

Graves were often marked with a commemorative stone that contained a scene involving the deceased person.

The Kerameikos (p. 118)

This was an area in Athens that contained the main burial site. When excavated it was found with many grave stelae.

The Anthesteria (p. 118)

This festival was celebrated over three days in January. While Dionysus was the deity worshipped, the dead were also important. As Dionysus was one of the few gods who could pass into the underworld he made for a good deity to share a festival with the dead. Click here to read more about the festival.

The Genesia (p. 118)

This festival was held on a single day in September. The festival was believed to have originally been a celebration exclusive to the family however evidence suggests that Solon (a political leader in Athens from around 594BC) turned the family day into a city wide festival for the dead as he believed care of the dead was a city wide responsibility. During such festivals special vases called lekythoi were left at the grave. Click here to see an example from the British Museum.

(S&C) Elpenor (p. 119)

Elphenor was one of Odysseus’ men who died during his journey. Odysseus was unaware of his death until he comes across Elpenor in the Underworld. The discussion between the two provides an insight into the importance of burial in the Greek world. Click here to read it (Homer, Odyssey 10.51-89). Hector received a burial after his body was retrieved from Achilles. Click here to read how the Trojans buried him (Homer, Iliad 24.776-804).

Rome

Roman funerals (p. 119)

A Roman funeral was a very busy event. Click here to see a recreation of a Roman funeral.

Tombs (p. 121)

Tombs were important in the Roman world. Click here to see what these tombs looked like in Pompeii. The video comes from Mary Beard’s Life and Death in a Roman Town. The section specifically on tombs starts at 46 minutes 34 seconds.

Appian (p. 121)

Appian wrote the speech delivered by Marc Antony at Julius Caesar’s funeral. Click here to read it (Appian, Civil Wars 2.144-147). Click here to watch a clip from a drama showing the funeral of Caesar in Rome. The clip also contains a funeral of a poorer citizen in a field outside Rome.

Muta (p. 121)

Muta was the goddess of the Parentalia. Ovid included a discussion of the goddess in his Fasti when discussing the 21st of February. Click here to read it (Ovid, Fasti 583).