Language/Ancient-greek-to-1453/Culture/The-Ancient-Greek-Afterlife
Death in Ancient Greece [edit | edit source]
The Styx was one of the five rivers of the underworld in ancient Greek mythology, together with the Phlegethon, Acheron, Lethe, and Cocytus, which joined at the underworld's center.
In order to enter the afterlife, a person's psyche (spirit) had to cross the River Styx in a boat driven by the ferryman Charon.
The Greeks held that after passing away, a spirit traveled to a location known as the Underworld (which they called Hades).
The manner in which people lived and their beliefs of what would happen to them after death are revealed through their burial practices.
The myth of the Greek afterlife involved paying Charon, the ferryman, in order to enter Hades. The Greeks had no idea of heaven or hell, so there was no postmortem judgment. Regarding what happens to a person after death, the ancient Greeks had some theories. They believed that in order to enter Hades after being declared dead and buried, one only needed to have Charon take them across the River Styx. But they had to compensate him for it.
It meant that the person had to pray that an obol would be placed in their mouth. The living relatives, especially the ladies, were in charge of planning the deceased person's funeral on their behalf. There were three essential components to the funeral rites. The prosthesis, or the body's arrangement, was done on the first day. The body was cleaned, anointed with oil, dressed, and placed inside the house on a high bed.
Family members and friends gathered to mourn and pay their respects to the deceased during this time. The mourners, who were all clothed in black robes, were mostly female.
They would gather around the on display body and perform dramatic acts of mourning, including pounding their breasts, ripping at their hair and clothes, and chanting dirge songs, which are songs of grief. It was crucial to do a proper burial as per tradition. Additionally, the family would often bury the deceased with a few burial goods in order to honor them and help them in the hereafter. Family members frequently put a penny or obol in the mouth of the deceased.
This was meant to serve as payment for the ferryman Charon, who demanded payment in exchange for safely delivering the soul across the Styx.
A number of monuments were also erected to the departed in addition to the burial. These could include imposing dirt mounds, grave markers, tombs, marble stelai, and statues to honor the deceased, depending on the family's wealth. The departed would have the best chance of safely crossing the River Styx and entering the afterlife to be at peace if the living relatives carried out all these ceremonies.
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Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Historical personalities
- Odyssey
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- Hetairas
- Shield of Achilles
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