Death and Burial: Practice Questions

In ancient Greek funerary customs, which of the following refers to the commemorative festival held annually to honour the ancestors?

In the context of Greek burial practices, what was the primary function of a stele (plural: stelai)?

In Roman funerary tradition, how did funeral clubs (collegia funeraticia) specifically support the poorest members of society?

In Greek funerary practices, what is the technical name for the ritual 'laying out' of the body before the funeral procession occurs?

During the Greek funerary process, what was the primary purpose of the ekphora?

Explain the different ritual functions of the Greek Genesia and the Roman Lemuria festivals in honoring the deceased.

In Roman funerary tradition, how did funeral clubs provide a necessary social and financial function for lower-class citizens, and what was the primary religious consequence for a member if the club failed to fulfill its duty?

In Roman society, the Parentalia and the Lemuria were both festivals held in honor of the dead, yet they served very different social and religious purposes.

(a) Describe the typical activities that took place during the Parentalia.
(b) Explain how the Lemuria differed from the Parentalia in terms of the spirits being addressed and the rituals performed by the paterfamilias.

Roman burial practices often involved the participation of funeral clubs and the use of specific funerary monuments.

(a) Explain why funeral clubs were essential for the poorer members of Roman society.
(b) Discuss how the Tomb of Naevoleia Tyche in Pompeii provides evidence for both the social status and the public life of the deceased.
(c) Evaluate the importance of the funerary procession in Roman society as a means of demonstrating family lineage and dignitas.