Funeral Customs of the Ancient Egyptians

Readings Question #1 HAFD page 5 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 HAFD page 6 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 HAFD page 8 What are dry burials? What was their purpose? The history of embalming will be covered in the Embalming I course.

Coffins (HAFD page 9) Sarcophagi: “massive coffins from a single mass of stone to protect from grave robbers” Sarco: flesh Phagus: eaters

Arthropoid

Readings Question #6 (HAFD page 13) Describe what was done when the head of an Egyptian household died. Include all elements from the actual time of death to interment. Rock cut tombs (cut into the hills) around the Egyptian capital city of Thebes They were elaborate structures with false corridors and blocked doors to discourage thieves.

Funeral Customs of the Ancient Greeks

Readings Question #7 (HAFD page 18) What is the “Cult of Dionysius” and “Elysian fields”? Readings Question #8 (HAFD page 19) How did the Athenians treat the dead on the battlefield?

Readings Question #9 (HAFD page 19) Describe how the Greeks prepare their dead for interment. Greek Prothesis showing laying out of the dead body and preparing it for burial.

Greek Funeral Procession HAFD page 20 Consisted of: deceased placed on a bier female mourners fraternity members hired dirge singers

Cremation HAFD page 20 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 HAFD page 20 Baked clay, cypress wood, stone Classification of tombs: stelae (shafts) kiones (columns) trapazae (square-cut) naida (temple-like) Greek tombstone of baby bidding farewell to his dead mother.

Funeral Feast HAFD page 21 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 HAFD page 24 animistic view mystery cults Epicurians Christianity

Burial Customs (HAFD page 25) cremation and burial sanitation issues columbaria burial societies

Readings Question #10 (HAFD page 25) In Roman times, if a person died in the presence of family, how was the body prepared? Readings Question #11 (HAFD page 26 Who were the “pollinctores”, “libitinarius”, “designator” and “praecor”?

Roman Funeralis HAFD page 27 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) HAFD page 27 first Christian emperor management of funerary behavior became more within the jurisdiction of the church

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 HAFD page 29 occupational models Roman undertaker precursor to modern day funeral service law