Death, Burial, and the Afterlife in Ancient Greece

Overview

• Ancient Greeks believed the psyche (spirit) left the body at death as a breath or puff of wind.
• Proper burial rites were important and included several key stages.

Burial Rituals

1. Prothesis (Laying Out of the Body)

   • The body was washed, anointed with oil, dressed, and placed on a high bed.
   • Relatives and friends mourned and paid respects.
   • Scenes of lamentation often depicted on Greek vases.

2. Ekphora (Funeral Procession)

   • Occurred usually just before dawn.
   • The body was taken to the cemetery.
   • Few objects placed in graves; however, markers were often elaborate.
   • Immortality was linked to the memory of the deceased by the living.

3. Interment

   • Bodies were buried or cremated.
   • Markers included earth mounds, rectangular tombs, and marble stelai and statues.
   • Women regularly visited graves with offerings.

Funerary Monuments

• Athenian Monuments

  • Aristocratic families erected lavish monuments in the 6th century B.C.
  • Monuments included relief sculptures, statues, and stelai with epitaphs.
  • Reliefs often depicted the deceased, with family members and possessions.

• Kerameikos Cemetery

  • Located outside Athens' city wall.
  • Used for centuries with well-preserved tomb layouts.
  • Families buried their dead in stone sarcophagi in terraced grave precincts.
  • Marble monuments placed along terrace edges.

Notable Aspects

• Ancient Greek art and literature emphasize the significance of proper burial practices.
• Funeral rites were seen as a reflection of respect and dignity for the deceased.
• Visual depictions of mourning were common from the Geometric period onward.

Contributors and Further Reading

• Contributors: Department of Greek and Roman Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Further Reading:
  • Garland, Robert. The Greek Way of Death.
  • Grant, Michael, and John Hazel. Who's Who in Classical Mythology.
  • Others listed in the original document.

Additional Information

• Monuments and their decorations were brightly painted.
• The afterlife in Greek mythology was not considered a pleasant place, as depicted in Homer’s Odyssey.
• Monuments served as a means to ensure continued remembrance of the deceased.