Death and Burial(Rome)

Question 1

What happened in the first century AD that made Romans respect death

Answer 1

An aristocrat, Pliny, wrote to his friend regarding a ghost that haunted his house

Question 2

How was Romans views on death similar to Greeks

Answer 2

-They gave everyone a proper burial
-They buried outside the city to remove pollution

Question 3

Where were Romans buried

Answer 3

Along roads to the city

Question 4

What would the wealthy do to ensure the dead are provided for

Answer 4

Invest heavily in funerals

Question 5

What was the main option for the poor to ensure the dead are provided for

Answer 5

Funerary clubs

Question 6

What are funerary clubs

Answer 6

Workers of the same trade would collectively pay for a funeral

Question 7

What would happen in a larger funerary club

Answer 7

Members may be buried in a club tomb or burial ground

Question 8

What would a relative of the dying person do at the moment of their death

Answer 8

Capture the last breath of the person with a kiss and call out their name

Question 9

What happened to the deceased body in the preparation stage

Answer 9

Body was washed and perfumed and dressed in their nicest clothes

Question 10

Why was coin placed in their motuh

Answer 10

Payment for the ferryman Charon

Question 11

Where would the body be placed if they were wealthy

Answer 11

In the atrium

Question 12

How long would a wealthy body stay in the atrium for

Answer 12

8 days

Question 13

When did the funerary procession start

Answer 13

8 days after death

Question 14

Who was involved in the funerary procession

Answer 14

-Family
-Slaves
-Freedmen
-Flute and horn players
-professional mourners

Question 15

What would family wear at the funerary procession

Answer 15

Wax funerary masks of ancestors

Question 16

What did the wax funerary masks symbolise

Answer 16

Acceptance of the deceased into the afterlife by ancestors

Question 17

What would wealthy families pay for in funerary processions

Answer 17

Pay for actors to mimic the deceased, and mourners to join

Question 18

What culture did the Romans take their customs of cremation and burials from?

Answer 18

The Greeks

Question 19

What determined size of tomb

Answer 19

Family wealth

Question 20

What would the extremely wealthy be placed into

Answer 20

Elaborately carved sarcophagi

Question 21

What did the sarcophagi depict

Answer 21

Mythological battles and heros

Question 22

What would be placed outside the house of the dead

Answer 22

A marble bust

Question 23

What is the significance of a marble bust

Answer 23

To make sure they are not forgotten

Question 24

What did they believe the marble busts turned into

Answer 24

Manes

Question 25

What did they need to do to the Manes

Answer 25

Needed to be fed and left offerings at the tomb

Question 26

Name two festivals for the dead and ancestors

Answer 26

The Parentalia and Lemuria

Question 27

When and how long was the Parentalia

Answer 27

9 days between 13 and 21 February

Question 28

What was forbidden on the Parentalia

Answer 28

-Marriage -Official business -Opening of temples

Question 29

What sacrifice happened on the first day of the Parentalia and by who

Answer 29

A blood sacrifice by vestal virgins

Question 30

What kind of festival was the Parentalia

Answer 30

Domestic festival centred around family

Question 31

What happened on the first 8 days and the last day of the Parentalia

Answer 31

-First 8 days offerings were taken to tombs -Last day family gathered for meals

Question 32

What was the Parentalia a chance for

Answer 32

To undo wrongs that had taken place

Question 33

When did the Lemuria take place

Answer 33

9th, 11th, 13th May

Question 34

What was forbidden on the Lemuria

Answer 34

-Marriage -Official business -Opening of temples

Question 35

What was the Lemuria's purpose

Answer 35

Ward off evil spirits

Question 36

How does Ovid describe the ritual

Answer 36

-Cleansing hands in spring water, take some black beans and throw them -'With the beans I throw I redeem myself and my family'

Question 37

How many times do they say the ritual described by Ovid in the Lemuria

Answer 37

9 times without looking back

Question 38

What do they ask the spirits to do by crying out in the Lemuria

Answer 38

Asks spirits to leave house by shouting 'Ancestral spirit, depart'

Question 39

What is the Atrium

Answer 39

Maim room of Roman domus where the family received friends and clients

Question 40

What are Manes

Answer 40

'the defied ancestors', spirits of the dead