THE CULT OF THE DEAD

Death and Roman mythologyLiz Upton

Session 3: 2010

What is the “Cult of the Dead”? Served as a double purpose:

Dead survived in the memories of relatives and friends. Ensured comfort, refreshment and guaranteed renewal

of life to their immortal spirits A regimented set of rituals formed the cult

ensuring proper burial to prevent unpleasant repercussions on both the dead and living

All Roman funerary practices were influenced by two notions:Death brought pollution and demanded acts of

purification from survivors Leaving a corpse unburied had negative consequences

on the fate of the departed

How was it practiced? Funus: covers everything taking place between hour of death

and performance of the last post-burial ceremonies Once departed, immediately proceeded as following:

Closest relative gave last kiss to catch soulSame relative closes deceased’s eyes and begins the

lamenting process which lasted until body is disposed of

Body is then washed, dressed and given coin to pay the ferryman, Charron

The “lying-in-state” occurs for several days

Funerary Processions Rich and poor experienced different

processionsRich = lasting up to 7 days, organized

by undertakers; very important people could have a funus indictivum

Poor = cremation or inhumation on cheap bier

All burials took place outside the city This was part of the regulations in the

Twelve Tables for sanitary precautions as well as fear of defilement

Most were roadside tombs

Post-funeral practices and services rendered to the dead Only when pig’s head had been

sacrificed was a grave legally a grave Upon return, suffitio rite – purification by

fire and water This marked the period of cleansingThe feast of silicernium eaten at the grave

that night Cena Novendialis, feast similar to silicernium,

takes place on the 9th day after funeralThroughout the year the dead were

commemorated by funerary meals

Funerary Feasts and Offerings Ceremonial meals present in carved gravestones or

painted on walls of mausolea Marks importance of feasts honoring the dead Some wealthy tombs were even equipped with kitchens

Yearly offerings made during the months of April, May, June, July, August and October, excluding birthdays and other feast days Parentalia feast was reserved only for relatives of the

deceased, taking place from February 13th-21st

The last day, Feralia, was a public ceremonial feast day Lemuria, the superstitious feast day in honor of the kinless

and hungry ghosts, the Lemures, who were considered dangerous. ○ Worshippers would protect themselves by washing of the

hands and chanting, while throwing black beans, “these I cast, with these I redeem me and mine”.

○ Ghosts would follow and gather the beans away from the living

Feasts and Offerings con’t Roman mythology dictated that the

dead could partake in their feasts Many graves had designed holes for

food and drink to be filtered through to the deceased

This was partly to honor the dead and mainly to help them in the afterlife

Roses were regarded as pledges of eternal spring in the life beyond, they were made as offerings

Ausonius’ Epitaph of Roses

“Sprinkle my ashes with pure wine and fragrant oil of spikehard:

Bring balsam, too, stronger with crimson roses.

Tearless my urn enjoys unending spring. I have not died, but

changed my state.”