Death, Burial, And The Afterlife In Ancient Greece
1. In Ancient Greece, the death of a loved one or prominent person was met with a period of grieving and celebration of their life. Alongside the somber rituals of interment, viewings, and the distinguishing of graves the celebration of the person's life took place. The people of Ancient Greece saw passing as an inescapable element of the circle of life. The Metropolitan Museum of Art's article "Death, Burial, and the Afterlife in Ancient Greece" (Department, 2003) offers additional information on Ancient Greek funerary rituals:
The burial rituals followed three steps, typically carried out by a female relative of the deceased.
The first phase, prothesis, was, essentially, a viewing of the body.
The ekphora was an early morning procession. …show more content…
A body, resting on a bed, is displayed for others to view before the procession. Below the imagery of prothesis a display of celebration is present. Chariots and soldiers represent competitions held to honor dead men. This vase would then be used to mark the location of a grave for others to locate and revisit, to ensure the deceased were remembered.
2. Much of the traditions established by the Ancient Greek are still in practice today. In modern society after the departure of a loved one the bodies are prepared and, often, a viewing takes place and, much like the Ancient Greek practice of placing the body on a bed, the body is arranged on a table or similar platform for viewing. Next, a procession, again generally following the Greeks example, takes place in the early morning to the cemetery where lastly the body is buried or cremated. Further, graves are marked with stone markers inscribed with epitaphs and adorned with flowers. Much like the Ancient Greeks, remembrance is equally important with the idea of the dead remaining beside the living in their hearts and minds. Graves are often visited, flowers replaced, and tales shared all nods to the Ancient Greek funerary customs. In some areas of the United States celebrations of the dead are even held. An example would be in New Orleans with their custom of a "Second Line" or jazz parade to honor the dead, an event intended to celebrate and find comfort in the loss of a loved
The burial rituals followed three steps, typically carried out by a female relative of the deceased.
The first phase, prothesis, was, essentially, a viewing of the body.
The ekphora was an early morning procession. …show more content…
A body, resting on a bed, is displayed for others to view before the procession. Below the imagery of prothesis a display of celebration is present. Chariots and soldiers represent competitions held to honor dead men. This vase would then be used to mark the location of a grave for others to locate and revisit, to ensure the deceased were remembered.
2. Much of the traditions established by the Ancient Greek are still in practice today. In modern society after the departure of a loved one the bodies are prepared and, often, a viewing takes place and, much like the Ancient Greek practice of placing the body on a bed, the body is arranged on a table or similar platform for viewing. Next, a procession, again generally following the Greeks example, takes place in the early morning to the cemetery where lastly the body is buried or cremated. Further, graves are marked with stone markers inscribed with epitaphs and adorned with flowers. Much like the Ancient Greeks, remembrance is equally important with the idea of the dead remaining beside the living in their hearts and minds. Graves are often visited, flowers replaced, and tales shared all nods to the Ancient Greek funerary customs. In some areas of the United States celebrations of the dead are even held. An example would be in New Orleans with their custom of a "Second Line" or jazz parade to honor the dead, an event intended to celebrate and find comfort in the loss of a loved