Funerals In Ancient Roman Funerals

At some point in our lives, we all come to realize that death is a part of life. Cultural diversity provides a wide variety of lifestyles and traditions for each of the unique groups of people in our world. Within these different cultures, the rituals associated with death and burial can also be uniquely diverse. Many consider ritualistic traditions that differ from their own to be somewhat strange and often perceive them as unnatural. A prime example would be the burial rituals of the Native American people.

In book VI of Polybius’ Histories (53-54), it covers a funeral procession as a form to educate and teach Roman youths. Various values and qualities range throughout this extract, and these values reflect the lives of the ‘Roman Society’, such values would include; Passion, Nobility, Immortality, Excellence, etc. These values of the funeral procession are produced in the text, as a way to ‘inspire’ the youth of Rome. However certain historians are suspicious when it comes to Polybius’ point of view on Roman Society. Historians believe this because of many reasons, which in turn include; being biased in the favour of the Romans, and it is noteworthy to say that Polybius isn’t viewed as a total impartial witness by some historians. Also, it

The temples, pyramids, tombs, and religious artifacts left behind all tell us that the Ancient Egyptians believed in the resurrection of the dead. Their belief in immortality was the fundamental driving force behind their religion. “The formulae which were declared to have been recited during the performance of ceremonies were written down and copied for scores of generations, and every pious, well-to-do Egyptian made arrangements that what had been done and said on behalf of Osiris should be done and said for him outside and inside his tomb after his death.” (Liturgy of Funeral Offerings, pg.2) This illustrates just how important the ceremony and the process was to the Egyptians. Their belief in the afterlife and the importance of the ceremonial steps taken to get them there caused them great concern with their own funerals. Today, everyone has an idea of what they would like to do for their own funeral as well. We may follow in the same patterns as our family heritage has done for generations with either a traditional funeral or cremation, or we may have a newer alternative in mind for our self. Even though we may not be preparing for an afterlife, we still have an

Religion played a central role in Spartan society in the ancient world. In addition to being well known for their fierce fighting force, Spartans were well known amongst other Greek city-states for their devotion and serious attitude towards religion and the gods. Because of their strict devotion to religious practises, they were often mocked by other Greek states. The gods were to be obeyed completely and were to be respected completely by all Spartans, though in theory, this relationship between the Spartans and the gods was believed to have been based on mutual respect. Religion was seen as a way of combining the gods with everyday social and political/governmental aspects of Spartan society, so much so

This was also the first of seven days of mourning. This mourning took place publicly, either just outside the entrance of the tomb, or inside the tomb itself..

In ancient Egypt, food offerings were made to the dead. In ancient Greece, pictures of feasts and their favorite things along with food were offered. The overall funeral between the two cultures was very similar in the way things were conducted, however grievers were different. In ancient Greece, people wore black robes and women cut their cheeks and hair to show their grief. In ancient Egypt, people showed their grief through the floral collars they wore . While the beliefs of the afterlife and funerals don’t differ tremendously between the two places, the way they handled the actual body did. In ancient Greece, they buried the dead so the dead who had good hearts would be ensured to make it to the good parts of the afterlife. In ancient Egypt, they used their advanced technologies to preserve bodies through mummification, so the dead could come out of the dead to accept offerings and essentially live forever. Sometimes, afterlife religious practices involved sacrifices which were found in different parts of life leading to the next idea.

There were very little respect for the dead. The few left to bury the dead dumped the bodies in mass graves, in the rivers, and burned them in great piles. Proper burial rites could not be done for hundreds at a time. Most graves were more like lasagnas since people and dirt were just layered. Rivers were clogged with the dead and there were huge piles of ashes. What was the point in burying each body individually? It was hard enough as it was to get enough space to make mass

"NOVA ROMA ::: Religio Romana ::: Roman Beliefs about the Afterlife." NOVA ROMA ::: Religio Romana ::: Roman Beliefs about the Afterlife. Web. 6 Nov. 2014. <http://www.novaroma.org/religio_romana/afterlife.html>.

Ancient Romans, even before Caesar, had indicated that a human could have become divine after death. In cases of the Romans, ancient custom required divine honours as a law to be given to the father by the son. When fathers died, sons would perform funeral rites at the grave of their

The family decorates the door of their home indicating that a death has occurred, and they also put a table outside, in front of the house, with pictures of the deceased on it. They also post notices all over town telling that a death has occurred, and about the life of the deceased. These things are the families way of letting the village knows that someone has died. After everyone has visited the deceased they all go to the church where a service is held, including a full mass. After the service the pall bearers carry the casket from the church to the cemetery, and everyone follows. As the procession passes by the people in the village

In ancient Egypt much like today the more money or power or influence you had the grander your burial. people with more money had grander sarcophaguses or caskets as they are known today. There burial place was also a status symbol many not smooch today but within western culture and also other cultures rich influence family had tombs were they could lay to rest all the dependents of the family Egypt had large pyramids that served as tombs. Though our tombs were not booby trapped like the Egyptian pyramids.

The living had returned home to their communities and the dead would be buried quickly and efficiently. The windfall of the monetary gain of embalming came to a quick end for the surgeons. It was not until the late 1890’s that embalming returned and this was when the role of an undertaker and embalmer merged into one entity. Companies were beginning to market the embalming fluid used during the procedures and would send their salesmen around the country to demonstrate and train the funeral home undertaker about the

The dead should be respected extensively and not altered with in any way, shape or form. Innocent bodies have been specially placed in their own graveyards to be respected and worshipped by those who dearly loved the bodies enough to pay an extensive amount in having them placed in an area where they were not to be disturbed with

The importance of burial plays a great part during the time period of The Ancient Romans as they had a strong emotional attachment to the ceremonial burial of the deceased and considered it such an honourable achievement to partake in such a religious ritual such as the funeral and burial. The Romans also wanted to demonstrate iusta facere towards the dead - the great deal of respect they had as well as the rights they had as the departed.

Mankind’s history of burial practices and funeral customs are as old as civilization itself. There is no specific way to planning a funeral. Every civilization and culture has provided for their dead in different ways. Religion and personal beliefs play an important role in the burial practices and funeral customs of a given culture or civilization. Furthermore, each civilization and cultured ever studied have three things in common: some type of funeral rites, rituals, and ceremonies; A sacred place for the dead; and memorialization of the dead. As far back as the time of Christ, burials have been noted to take place. In time burial and funeral customs have become very distinct, interesting and