Funeral Customs of the Ancient Egyptians

Readings Question #1

Which culture was the first to record a morality of group life based on internal conscience rather than on external authority supported by force?

Readings Question #2

• Who is Osiris?

Circle of Necessity

• soul makes a 3000 year long journey and returns to the body

• once reunited the whole person would live with the gods

• created the need for embalming

Readings Question #3

• What did the Egyptians believe was the focus of the universe?

Readings Question #4

• Describe the Egyptian concept of life after death.

• offerings to the dead• perpetual care• tombs, coffins, funeral treasures

Readings Question #5

• What are dry burials? What was their purpose?

• The history of embalming will be covered in the Embalming I course.

Coffins

• Sarcophagi: “massive coffins from a single mass of stone to protect from grave robbers”

• Sarco: flesh• Phagus: eaters

Arthropoid

Readings Question #6

• Describe what was done when the head of an Egyptian household died. Include all elements from the actual time of death to interment.

Funeral Customs of the Ancient Greeks

Readings Question #7

• What is the “Cult of Dionysius” and “Elysian fields”?

Readings Question #8

• How did the Athenians tread the dead on the battlefield?

Readings Question #9

• Describe how the Greeks prepare their dead for interment.

Greek Funeral Procession

• Consisted of:– deceased placed on a bier– female mourners– fraternity members– hired dirge singers

Cremation

• began 1000 BC• at no time was earth burial completely

abandoned• power of the flame to set the soul free• “ashes” contained personal or spirit

characteristics

Coffins and Tombs

• Baked clay, cypress wood, stone• Classification of tombs:– stelae (shafts)– kiones (columns)– trapazae (square-cut)– naida (temple-like)

Funeral Feast

• one of the final steps

• broke the fast

• sacrifices: kept a connection between the living and the dead

Funeral Customs of the Ancient Romans

Early Death Beliefs

• animistic view

• mystery cults

• Epicurians

• Christianity

Burial Customs

• cremation and burial

• sanitation issues

• columbaria

• burial societies

Readings Question #10

• In Roman times, if a person died in the presence of family, how was the body prepared?

Readings Question #11

• Who were the “pollinctores”, “libitinarius”, “designator” and “praeco”?

Roman Funeralis

• Readings question #12:

• In the Roman funeral procession, where was the body taken? What type of rituals were performed there?

Constantine the Great(314 AD – 379 AD)

• first Christian emperor• management of funerary

behavior became morewithin the jurisdiction of thechurch

Edict of Toleration

• Galerius 311 AD• Christians at this time were refusing to

worship the gods• allowed them to practice their faith without

fear of persecution, as along as their actions did not go against the common good

Influence of Roman Burial Practices

• occupational models

• Roman undertaker

• precursor to modern day funeral service law