Summarizing

I created this blog as part of an assignment for my Perspectives in Death and Dying class at Southeast Missouri State University. My goal was to research the funeral and burial practices of Ancient Rome. When I started this blog I thought this assignment would be easy and something fun and interesting. It did turn out to be fun and interesting but it was definitely not easy.

What I did not take into consideration when I started this project was how large the Ancient Roman Empire actually was. It covered lots of different countries with different traditions and religions that had various effects on the funeral and burial practices. In reality it would take a lot more than a semester to properly examine the various traditions under the empire.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed reading on my topic and found that the first book I read "Spectacles of Death in Ancient Rome" by Donald G. Kyle to be the most informative and a lot of the articles I read after that became somewhat repetitive. To find new information I probably would have needed to refine my search to look at different areas conquered by the Romans and look at their funeral and burial traditions.

The most important aspects that I want to revisit and cover in my power point are how they disposed on the arena victims, the funeral procession with the masks, burial practices outside the city walls/burial sacrifice, and other smaller traditions that may not have been widely practiced but were still interesting.

I hope you all have enjoyed reading this blog and I might continue my investigations and updates just for my own personal entertainment.

One More Thing...

There was one other article that I read concerning burials during the transition of Rome from a republic to an empire. The work was entitled "Seasons of Death" by Brent Shaw and concerned the burials and epitaphs of Christians.

"The Christian deceased were buried in the so-called catacombs-a disparate network of well over sixty different burial grounds constituted by underground tunnels and chambers radiating outwards from the periphery of the city. It has been estimated that these subterranean corridors extend for a combined length of about a thousand kilometers beneath the surface of the suburban regions of Rome." (101)

(That is around 621 miles)(It should also be noted that they did not bury within the city walls at this time either)

The epitaphs included a date of birth which was actually the death date or date of rebirth. This was the most important piece of information to be included on the Christian epitaphs unlike the Ancient Roman tradition of including their accomplishments etc.

The reason that I wanted to bring up this article is because I personally wonder what happened to the catacombs during the Ancient Roman times. During my reading I have often come across their harsh treatment of Christians and how Christian burials were not accepted as real graveyards-so I wonder that the catacombs were never touched during the Ancient Roman Empire.

Death in Ancient Rome

Over the past couple days I have done a lot of reading on Ancient Rome for historiography, most of which ended up being irrelevant to this blog unfortunately. One book that I read though entitled "Death in Ancient Rome" by Catherine Edwards had a few (very few) parts that could be considered of interest.

One of which is a description of a dinner party held by a member of the elite:

"Towards the close of the dinner, Trimalchio reads his will out to those who are to inherit from him. Then, after the arrival of Habinnas, who is by trade a monumental mason, Trimalchio orders in great detail an extremely elaborate funeral monument. Having described the funeral monument, Trimalchio starts to weep....The dinner party's culmination is a fully -fledged rehearsal of Trimalchio's funeral." (168)

I had hoped that a book dealing with death would have more information dealing with funerals and burials woven in but Edwards sticks to her theme and does not ever really stray into what happens after death. However, the reading was still interesting and can be used to help understand why funerals and burials were so elaborate in many cases.

Death was an obsession for many Romans, as demonstrated by the funeral dinner party, and to die bravely was highly important. Historians of the time often wrote about the proper ways to die and instructed people on how to prepare for death and why it should not be feared. The arena also served to teach people how to die bravely in the form of the gladiators whom many admired. In fact, and I think I may have mentioned this before, the funeral practice of sacrificing a poor slave is though to be the origins of the Roman Arena.

Hello Readers!

So, I don't have any actual new information for you right now but there should be a great deal of last minute information coming soon! I am currently working on my historiographical essay that is dealing with the Roman Arena and a lot of the reading also includes some information relevant to this blog! So while I am doing that paper I will also be making side notes of information to post here.

I have also found an entire article of relevant information thanks to Mrs. Hosselkus' recommendations so I will hopefully be reading that around... Thursday of this week!

Hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving (those who celebrate Thanksgiving) and have a great week!

Also, I may post my historiographical essay since it has some relevance to this blog-we'll see!

Children's Burials Continued

Norman, Naomi J. "Death And Burial Of Roman Children: The Case Of The Yasmina Cemetery At Carthage—Part I, Setting The Stage." Mortality 7.3 (2002): 302-323. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Nov. 2013.

 Norman, Naomi J. "Death And Burial Of Roman Children: The Case Of The Yasmina Cemetery At Carthage--Part II, The Archaeological Evidence." Mortality 8.1 (2003): 36-47. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.

Q&A, 
 Q: 
"I also found the fact about graves lined with white plaster interesting! I wonder what their reasons were (besides social status) for doing that?"

 A:
According to the reading, there are two theories on the use of white plaster for burials: One is that it identified Christian graves because they expressed concern for maintaining the integrity of the body after death. Two is that it was used only on bodies too old for burial in amphoras (large storage vessels).

Part I:

Continuing with the article from my previous post Norman makes an excellent point to keep in mind, the geographical expanse of the empire causes tremendous variation in the funeral and burial practices of children. (this also causes a variation in the funeral and burial practices of the adults as many cultures intertwined previous traditions with the Roman traditions)

 Funeral processions for children were held at night "away from the public gaze" and were seen as private family events versus the extravagant social events that were reserved for adults. The funeral procession was lit by torches which is thought to either diminish the child's terror or to dispel pollution brought on by a child's death. The article also states that it was "necessary to sacrifice a pig in order to mark the grave legally as a grave" which I don't think I have read before but some of the graves did include pig bones. (I have read of other sorts of sacrifices at the Roman grave sites but not a pig specifically)

Another practice that I don't remember reading on was at the time of death the family would call out the name of the deceased to ascertain that death had occurred.  

Part II:

The second article examines various archeological evidence from different areas of the empire to determine the different practices.

The use of amphoras in burials was typically used to distinguish children from adults. 

A cemetery in Thysdrus was reserved specifically for children and was arranged by age.

Many of the cemeteries showed the transition from original practice to Roman practices. The original graves were more basic and would often be lacking markers while the Roman graves would be more elaborate masonry tombs that markers and epitaphs with the child's age.

 

Children's Burials

This week I have been looking over an article focusing on the burial of children based mostly off archeological evidence.

Norman, Naomi J. "Death And Burial Of Roman Children: The Case Of The Yasmina Cemetery At Carthage—Part I, Setting The Stage." Mortality 7.3 (2002): 302-323. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Nov. 2013.

 Archeological studies done by the University of George at a cemetery in Carthage reveals interesting evidence that has similarities and differences among other Roman grave sites.

They examined over 60 burials at this specific site, of which a large portion were ages 1-7. From the graves themselves it was determined that the cemetery held persons of all social statuses. Some of the graves were lined with rubble while others were of white plaster.

What they discovered that was different from traditional Roman Customs was that only the children between ages 1-7 had grave gifts which was common for all burials of the time. Also the children's graves were clustered around the middle of the cemetery when usually they would be intermingled with the adult graves.

Children's epitaphs, unlike adults, would emphasize their age because they had little other accomplishments to commemorate.

On grieving for children:

"A law of Numa, quotes by Plutarch, for example, apportions the length of mourning for a child in relation to the child's age at death: children below the age of one year received no mourning, those between the ages of one and three years received half morning, those between three and 10 years old received on month of mourning for every year of life and those older than 10 received full mourning. When consoling his wife over the death of their two year old daughter, Plutarch remarks that the child's obsequies should be simple and carried out quickly. He remind her that, in accordance with ancestral custom, one should not offer libations nor linger at the funeral of a young child. Nor should one grieve too much. He explains that children receive a minimal amount of ritual because they are not yet fully integrated into the social fabric of the community."

.....To be continued.

Research Update

Hello readers! So my professor has suggested that I look to Jstor to find more articles on my subject so I spent some time this week browsing with a few different search terms and didn't come up with much of anything new. I don't have a new post for you this week because I ended up going to Six Flags today so I will hopefully be able to find something tomorrow that I can post for you all. If not I will probably have to figure out some new search terms or give up on Jstor.

My Research Process

With the books I have been reading there hasn't been much to my research process. I have been looking at the sources used in the books for possible future references to look into but I think I have mentioned that before. For this week I wanted to get something a little different up so I looked up 'ancient rome death' on youtube and selected a few videos that seemed reliable. The first was a project done by the American Institute for Roman Culture and Northeast University and the second was an archeology group in the UK.

I want to look at more videos in the future because I feel that the visual representation the provide adds some interest to the research.

Taking a Break

I thought for this weeks post I would take a break from hounding you with information from the books I have been reading and try to find something a little more fun.

click here to view information on 10 famous gladiators including Spartacus.

The above video talks about various aspects of funeral and burial practices that I have previously mentioned as well as some new practices that I haven't. It has some great visual footage of burial sites.

This video is of an archeology group opening a Roman coffin. Sad and interesting at the same time the coffin holds two bodies-an adult and a child.

I hope you enjoy the videos as much as I did. I thought it would be nice to get some visual representation up and give you all a break from reading my long posts. 

Arena Victim Disposal

I read most of the chapter dealing with the disposal of arena victims and once again have quoted the parts that I found to be the most useful:

GLADIATOR BURIAL (pg160)

"True gladiators (began slave or free, trained under a lanista or at an imperial school to a level of skill and specialization, and bound by oath to fight until dead, freed, or the fulfillment of their contract) were generally allowed and sometimes provided with decent burial. Corpses could be claimed by owners, editors, relatives, burial clubs, or fellow gladiators. Many individual burials arranged by relatives and friends are known from epitaphs which listed the gladiator’s name, style of fighting, and number of combats, as well as the name of the person who arranged the burial. Most of the gladiators recorded in epitaphs tend to be successful ones who had lived long enough with enough success to become free, develop friendships and marry or cohabit, save money, and make funeral arrangements."  (Kyle 160)

Former elites may find themselves left unburied if they shame themselves by attempting suicide or begging for mercy in the arena. (Kyle 161)

THE DISPOSAL OF NOXII-OR LESSERS, CAPTIVES, ARENA SLAVES, ETC:

"Not all of these mean were heartless criminals, some were condemned for political reasons, innocent victims of reigns of terror, or pious followers of illegal cults.  Most went straight to the beasts unless they showed signs of special training or potential. Noxii, whose lives and deaths suggested neither virtue nor skill, were abused and damned. Purchasers of condemned convicts were contractually bound to have them killed by a deadline, but there was no clause concerning provision of burial."(Kyle 162)

There is an official undertaker in charge of those who are denied a proper burial. Those using other methods are fined. 

Image from Wikipedia of Rodolfo Lanciani

“In many cases contents of each vault were reduced to a uniform mass of black, viscid, pestilent, unctuous matter; in a few cases the bones could in a measure be singled out and identified. The reader will hardly believe me when I say that men, beasts, bodies, and carcasses, and any kind of unmentionable refuse of the town were heaped up in those dens.” (Kyle 164)

Quoting Lanciani (pictured above) whom in 1870s found several hundred man-made pits (of 4 by 5 m by 10m deep) near the northwest corner of the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele. He excavated 75 of these.

These pits were left open to elements until full, then minimally covered.

Lanciani uncovered another mass grave in part of a moat that was 160 feet long, 100 wide, and 30 deep that contained about 24,000 remains of both humans and animals- it could be from the plague. (Kyle 165)

Going back to crucifixion, bodies were guarded until dead and probably longer. They were sometimes taken down and buried t night or if an order was specifically given to do so. Otherwise it is unlikely that most corpses were taken down, let alone buried after crucifixion. (169) Usually left to the animals and elements. 

Discussion: As the arenas grew in popularity Rome was left to deal with thousands of the dead. The majority would not receive a proper burial. Mass burial sites moved as needs arose because of sanitation or lack of space. The author mentioned that it is not even certain that these mass graves were used for arena victims but could also contain victims of the plague. Please feel free to ask questions in the comment section.

Looking into the Arena

It has been a while since my last post and I apologize! This week I have been reading "Spectacles of Death in Ancient Rome" by Donald G. Kyle. This book has focused on, as the title suggests, spectacles of death ranging from public execution of criminals to the famous Arenas. While I was reading I typed up some of the more interesting quotes:

“The ancients thought that by this sort of spectacle they rendered a service to the dead, after they had tempered it with a more cultured form of cruelty. For of old, in the belief that the souls of the dead are propitiated with human blood, they used at funerals to sacrifice captives or slaves of poor quality whom they bought. Afterwards it seemed good to obscure their impiety by making it a pleasure. So after the persons procured had been trained in such arms as they had and best they might – their training was to learn to be killed! – they did them to death on the appointed day at the tombs. So they found comfort for death in murder.” (Kyle 43-44)

It should be noted that it was not a common practice to sacrifice humans at funerals but there are a few records. In early times public killings became a way to derive entertainment from the disposal of criminals, deal out punishment, and perform ritualized sacrifices. The arena developed as these spectacles grew in popularity. 

"Elite Romans had long used elaborate funerals to reinforce familial claims to status, and they would later use imposing monuments and tombs as more enduring symbols." (Kyle 47)

A reference to burial sites. 

"In 214, 370 deserters caught in southern Italy were publicly scourged in the place of assembly (comitium) and thrown from the Tarpeian Rock at Rome” (Kyle 49)

 This quote shows the severity of punishment as well as a disposal method.

Click to take a tour of the Colosseum

“Quick and unaggravated, decapitation at the edge of town was the most discreet form of execution, a privilege for citizens of status. For a host of crimes Rome punished criminals of low status with aggravated or ultimate punishments (summa supplicia), which included exposure to wild beasts, crucifixion, and burning alive. One could also be condemned to become a gladiator, or sent for a life to the mines (metallum) or public works (opus publicum)” (Kyle 53)

Another quote showing the severity of punishments doled out by the Ancient Romans. 

“For exemplary effect, crucifixions were held at well-travelled public roadways, offering a stark contrast to the hallowed burials of good citizens nearby” (Kyle 53)

Crucifixions were usually punishments used again Jews and Christians.

“All Roman funerary practice was influenced by two basic notions – first, that death brought pollution and demanded from the survivors acts of purification and expiation; secondly, that to leave a corpse unburied had unpleasant repercussions on the fate of the departed soul” (Kyle 129) 

"Methods of removal and disposal varied according to the victim's status. Gladiators were carried on stretchers through the fate of death. Lesser victims were dragged off by hooks. The hooks added insult and provided a way to avoid personal contact with an obscene body."  (Kyle 156) pictured above.

 

Discussion: First of all, I apologize that this post is really long when I said I would try to keep them short. At this rate with book readings I doubt that will happen. The pages that I read focuses mainly on the way in which people were killed in the Arena and has not focused on the mode of disposal yet. When I quit reading though Kyle was discussing how the denial of burial was used as a further form of punishment for the worst criminals such as traitors, murderers, and enemies of Rome. These bodies were often fed to beasts and little is known of what they did with any remains left over. There is speculation that they would be dumped in a pit or simply left. The next chapter is entitled Disposal From Roman Arenas which I hope to get a chance to read later this evening.

Colosseum Image:
http://www.tribunesandtriumphs.org/

Tour is provided via BBC:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/launch_ani_colosseum.shtml

Disposal Image:
http://www.themonolith.com/tag/ancient-roman-death-metal/

Quotes:
Kyle, Donald. Spectacles of Death in Ancient Rome. London: Rutledge, 1998.