Studies the beliefs and practices surrounding death and the afterlife in ancient cultures, including burial customs, mourning traditions, and religious ceremonies.
Death and the afterlife: Beliefs surrounding death and what happens after death in different cultures and religions.
Funeral customs: Rituals and traditions associated with funerals and burials.
Death rituals in history: How death and funerary rituals have changed over time.
Death and grief: How people deal with the emotional impact of death and mourning.
Mourning clothing: The history and symbolism of mourning dress in different cultures.
Embalming and mummification: The processes of preserving the body after death.
Funerary architecture: The design and construction of tombs and other funerary structures.
Death and disease: How diseases have impacted death and funerary rituals throughout history.
Death in art: How death has been portrayed in art throughout history.
Death and funerary music: How music has been used in funeral rituals from different cultures and religions.
The funeral industry: The business of organizing and providing services related to death and funerary rituals.
Death and the environment: How different cultures and religions approach burial and funerary practices with respect to the environment.
Grave markers and monuments: The history and symbolism of grave markers and monuments in different cultures.
Cremation: The history and cultural significance of cremation as a funerary practice.
Death and the law: How laws and regulations impact death and funerary rites.
Mummification: This is a process where the body is prepared and preserved for an afterlife. The ancient Egyptians used this process, and it involved removing organs, drying the body, and wrapping it in cloth. These mummies were then placed in tombs.
Burial: This is when the body is placed in a grave or tomb, and this often involves placing the body in a casket or coffin. Different cultures have different customs surrounding burial, such as burying the body facing east, or placing the body in a specific position.
Cremation: This is where the body is burned to ashes. This was a common practice in ancient Rome, and it is still used today in some cultures.
Sky burial: This is a Tibetan practice where the body is left on a hilltop for vultures to eat. This is seen as a way to give back to nature.
Funeral pyre: This is where the body is placed on a platform or structure and burned. This was a common practice in ancient Greece and Rome.
Death masks: These are casts made of the face of the deceased, often made of clay or plaster. These were used in ancient cultures such as Egypt and Greece as a way to honor the dead and preserve their memory.
Death coins: These are coins that were placed in the mouth of the deceased as a way to pay the ferryman to cross the river Styx. This was a common practice in ancient Greece and Rome.
Mourning periods: Different cultures have different mourning periods, where family members and friends wear black clothing or perform specific rituals to honor the deceased.
Tombstones: These are stone markers placed at the gravesite to remember the deceased. Different cultures have different customs surrounding tombstones, such as the type of stone used, the way the name is written, and the messages written on the stone.
Afterlife beliefs: Different cultures have different beliefs about the afterlife, such as the soul reincarnating, going to a specific heaven or hell, or being judged by a god. These beliefs often influence the type of funerary rituals that are performed.