Warwick Classics Travelling MuseumDeath in the Ancient World

Lesson objectives: ● Learn about different Greek and Roman burials● Understand rituals and funerary rites● Experience ancient objects firsthand and understand what they can tell us

about ancient ideas of the afterlife

Object 1 (left)

What do you think this object is?

What is depicted on it?

How big is it?

What do you think it is used

Object 2 (right)

What do you think this object is?

How do you think it was made?

What is the earliest type of Greek grave?1) Cist grave 2) Shaft grave 3) Chamber tomb

Object 2 (right)

What do you think this object is?

How do you think it was made?

Object 3 (above)

What do you think this object is?

Who would have used this object?

What is it made of?Death in the Ancient World Quiz

How many days was the festival “Parentalia”, which celebrated dead ancestors?1) 112) 53) 9

What is the name of a Greek Funerary Procession?1) Ekphrasis2) Ekphora3) Amphora

Where were the Fayum funerary portraits found?1) Egypt 2) Sicily 3) Rome

If you are cremating the dead, what are you doing to the body?1) Burying it 2) Burning it 3) Letting it float off to sea

What are imagines?1) A type of luxury building 2) A familial portrait 3) A festival of the dead

What is a lekythos? 1) Types of tomb2) Perfume jars 3) Roman job

Using the images on the following pages to help you, design your own lekythos like the one below! You could add some Greek style patterns or draw a Greek myth on it. On the example to the left below, we see a scene from the Trojan War, of the Greek hero Achilles dragging behind him the body of the Trojan hero hector. On the right we see a man before battle cutting his hair as a dedication.

Design your own lekythos!

Using the images on the following page to help you, design your own Roman Tombstone like the one below! Imagine how you would like to be remembered – what might your job have been, and who is remebering you?

Design your own Roman Tombstone!