1 (Oxford University Press, 2010). The Cost of Grief: Professional Mourners of the Ancient World Following the prothesis, the deceased was brought to the cemetery in a procession, the ekphora, which usually took place just before dawn. [1][2] The body of the deceased was prepared to lie in state, followed by a procession to the resting place, a single grave or a family tomb. A tomb at Marathon contained the remains of horses that may have been sacrificed at the site after drawing the funeral cart there. Ancient Egypt offers a paradigm contrast between ideals of respectful care for the dead, on the one hand, and realities of medium- and long-term neglect, destruction and reuse on the other. have commonly been found with their hands held to their mouths cupping a small bowl. This involved a ceremonial opening of the mouth to grant the dead the power to speak and eat in the next life. When a third onlooker is present, the figure may be their adult child. The cemetery was in use for centuriesmonumental Geometric kraters marked grave mounds of the eighth century B.C. Roman funerals varied based on economic class. Kinswomen, wrapped in dark robes, stood round the bier, the chief mourner, either mother or wife, was at the head, and others behind. Special interests include art, architecture, and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. Submitted by Mark Cartwright, published on 10 March 2021. Processions and ritual laments are depicted on burial chests(larnakes)fromTanagra. Photo credit: Ancient Origins. [4]During the earlyArchaic period, Greek cemeteries became larger, but grave goods decreased. (PDF) Burial customs and the pollution of death in ancient Rome Key religious structures housed in the following sites from the Classical period include: (As a teacher (K-12), you can receive free access to six articles a month on JSTOR by registering for the site: https://support.jstor.org/hc/en-us/articles/115004760028-MyJSTOR-How-to-Register-Get-Free-Access-to-Content). Photo Credits: LolWot We know that the ancient world was a pretty odd place. Ancient Greece and Rome Thetholosis characteristic of Mycenaean elite tomb construction. The wooden walls of the chamber room were made of oak logs, each wall measuring around 4.7 metres (15.4 ft) in length. Women played a major role in funeral rites. Afterwards, there was a funeral feast called the peridinin. After the body was prepared, it was laid out for viewing on the second day. With your support millions of people learn about history entirely for free, every month.