Rome

• What was an important part of the funeral practices in Ancient Rome?

  Remembrance of the dead
• What were the main social classes involved in Roman death and burial practices?

  • The Poor
  • The Wealthy
  • Funeral Clubs
• How did the Romans view the treatment of the dead?

  It was incredibly important that the dead were treated with respect
• What was a significant difference in funeral practices between the wealthy and the poor in Ancient Rome?

  The wealthy invested heavily in funerals, while the poor could not afford as much
• What role did funeral clubs play for the less wealthy in Ancient Rome?


  They provided a way for the less wealthy to afford funerals for their loved ones
• What was the purpose of the coin placed on the deceased's mouth?

  It was payment for Charon, the boatman who ferried the dead to the underworld
• What were the steps involved in the preparation of the body for burial in Ancient Rome?

  1. The body was washed and perfumed

  2. Wrapped in a long white shroud

  3. A coin was placed on the mouth for Charon

  4. The body was laid out in the atrium for eight days

  5. A bowl of water was placed outside for purification
• How long was the body laid out for mourning in Ancient Rome?

  Eight days
• What was the significance of the funerary masks worn by family members during the funeral procession?

  They symbolized acceptance of the deceased into the afterlife
• Where was the final resting place of the body in Ancient Rome?

  Outside the city
• What were the characteristics of tombs for the wealthy in Ancient Rome?

  • Buried in family tombs or individual monuments
  • Tombs built along roads for remembrance
  • Elaborately carved sarcophagi with relief sculptures
• What was the purpose of the festival of Parentalia in Ancient Rome?

  To pay respects to deceased loved ones
• What activities were prohibited during the festival of Parentalia?

  • Marrying
  • Conducting official business
  • Opening temples
• What was the duration of the festival of Lemuria?

  Three days
• What was the main purpose of the Lemuria festival?

  To ward off evil spirits
• What rituals were performed during the Lemuria festival?

  • Washing
  • Taking black beans and throwing them
  • Chanting phrases to redeem oneself and family
  • Sounding bronze symbols
  • Final cry to ancestral spirits