1.7 death and burial

• What happened when the person had died? (5)

  1 Eyes and mouth closed 2 body washed 3 perfumed 4 wrapped in white shroud 5 coin in mouth
• Why was a coin put in the dead person's mouth?

  Payment to Charon, ferryman of the dead
• Give the two technical terms for what happened in the house.

  1 prosthesis 2 lament
• What was the prosthesis? (2)

  1 lasted two days 2 friends and family paid their respects
• What did the lament involve? (6)

  1 cut hair 2 dress in black 3 wail 4 beat chest 5 flail arms 6 especially by the women
• What happened on the third day?

  The ekphora
• What was the ekphora? (4)

  1 The funeral procession 2 either with body carried 3 or on a wagon 4 flute player
• Where was the body buried?

  Outside the city
• What options were there for the body? (2)

  1 Burn the body 2 Bury the body
• What burial gifts were left? (2)

  1 Items important to the dead person 2 food for the journey
• What could be set up at the grave?

  A stele (stone slab)
• What did the stele aim to do?

  Display the family's wealth and status
• What happened after the burial? (3)

  1 A sacrifice 2 to Hades and Persephone 3 with the blood poured on the ground
• What happened after the sacrifice? (3)

  1 Mourning for thirty days 2 Visiting the grave on the 3rd, 9th and 13th days 3 An annual visit to the grave
• Name two Greek festivals to the dead.

  1 The Anthesteria 2 The Genesia
• What did the Anthesteria celebrate?

  The maturing of wine
• What happened on the first day? (3)

  1 The dead rose from the Underworld 2 Wine jars were opened 3 drink offering were made to Dionysus
• What happened on the second day? (2)

  1 Drinking contests 2 Drink offerings were poured on graves
• What happened on the third day? (2)

  1 Offerings were made to Hermes 2 The dead left Athens
• What happened at the Genesia festival? (2)

  1 Graves were decorated with ribbons 2 food and blood sacrifices for the dead ancestors
• Where were the wealthy buried in Roman times? (2)

  1 Outside the city 2 in tombs 3 by the road
• How did the less wealthy secure a good burial? (3)

  1 They paid a monthly fee 2 to a funeral club 3 on death, the club paid for burial 4 club members attended the funeral
• What benefits did a funeral club offer? (2)


  1 Club meals and gatherings 2 making social connections
• How were burial clubs often organised?

  For workers of the same trade
• What happened at the death of a Roman ideally? (5)

  1 Catch the final breath with a kiss 2 call out the deceased's name 3 wash and perfume body 4 dress in fine clothes 5 coin in mouth
• What happened to the prepared body? (4)

  1 It was left in the atrium 2 for eight days 3 friends and family paid their respects 4 the women lamented
• Who was involved in the funeral? (7)

  1 Flute players 2 horn players 3 deceased's family 4 slaves 5 freedmen 6 professional mourners 7 actors to mimic the deceased
• What would the family do in the procession?

  wear wax masks of family ancestors
• What did the tombs of the dead resemble? (2)

  1 homes 2 temples
• Why were the dead buried by the road?

  So the deceased would be remembered
• What were the super-rich buried in?

  sarcophagus (stone coffin)
• How was the deceased remembered?

  A marble statue of their head was made
• What did the Romans call the spirits of the dead?

  The Manes
• What did the Manes need?


  Food and wine offerings
• Name the two Roman festivals for the dead.

  1 The Parentalia 2 The Lemuria
• How long did the Parentalia last?

  Nine days
• What was stopped during the Parentalia? (3)

  1 No marriages 2 temples were closed 3 no official business
• What happened on the first day?

  A blood sacrifice by a Vestal Virgin
• What was left at the tombs of the deceased? (5)

  1 The garlands 2 meal (ground meal) 3 salt 4 bread 5 flowers
• What happened on the ninth day?


  A family meal took place at home