Greece

• Oikos

  The family including the home, possessions and slaves
• Kyrios

  The male head of a Greek household
• Stage 1

  preparation
• who could take part in the preparation?

  women over 60

  immediate female relatives
• what happened in the preparation

  eyes and mouth were closed

  washed body and dressed wounds

  anointed with perfumes

  dressed in white shroud

  garlanded with flowers
• which way did the body lie?

  feet facing the door so the soul could depart
• Who was the river boat man?

  Charon
• What was the river souls had to cross called?

  river styx
• Why was a coin placed in the mouth?

  so the soul could pay Charon to cross the River Styx
• Prothesis

  the laying out of a body
• Lament

  A passionate expression of grief
• Stage 2

  prothesis
• How long was the body laid out for?

  2 days
• what was placed outside the front door?

  bowl of spring water so visitors could cleanse themselves
• What did women do in the procession?

  uttered a lament while beating their breasts and scratching their cheeks until they drew blood

  cut their hair short

  marked their heads with ashes

  dressed in filthy, torn clothes
• Ekphora

  the funeral procession
• Stage 3

  ekphora
• when was the ekphora?

  before sunrise on the third day
• Where did the procession go?

  from the oikos to the grave or tomb
• who was the grave carried by?

  Pallbearers or by a horse drawn cart
• who played the serious music in the ekphora?

  aulos players
• Kerameikos

  the main burial ground outside the city (in Athens)
• Why were burials outside the city?

  To avoid the spread of disease
• Stage 4

  Burial
• Why was cremation more expensive?

  wood was limited in Athens
• What was used to put out the flames once the body was burnt?

  wine
• Where were the ashes gathered?

  In a funerary inn, and placed in a shrine or grave
• Why would relatives give gifts?

  to nourish the soul on its journey
• Why were personal possessions added?

  to bring comfort to the dead
• What was sometimes poured out on the grave?

  libations of oil or wine
• What often happened after funerals?

  the sacrifice of an animal and a feast
• What were unmarried girls who died considered to be?

  the brides of death
• When was the Anathesteria and how long was it?

  Late January

  3 days
• What did the Anathesteria celebrate?

  the maturing of wine and Dionysus
• What happened on the first day of the Anasthesteria?

  Believed that the dead rose and roamed the earth. Wine from previous year was opened and libations were poured to Dionysus
• What happened on the second day of the Anasthesteria?

  Drinking contests. Families poured libations on the graves of their ancestors
• What happened on the third day of the Anasthesteria?

  Last day of the dead roaming the earth. Offerings were made to Hermes as he could guide the souls back to the underworld
• Why were offering made to Hermes?

  he could travel in the world of living and dead and guide the souls to the underworld
• How long was the Genesia and when was it?

  Late September

  A day
• What happened on the Genesia?

  Decorated graves with ribbons

  Offered special food and blood sacrifices in honour of their dead ancestors

  Offerings poured on graves