Funeral Rites

This is a forum for off topic discussions, including testing if you are unsure how to post.

Moderator: pothos moderators

Post Reply
ScottOden
Pezhetairos (foot soldier)
Posts: 121
Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2003 7:12 pm
Location: Southern US
Contact:

Funeral Rites

Post by ScottOden »

Greetings, all:

Does anyone know of any specific cultural taboos that would prevent an Athenian bastard (in the classic meaning of the word), circa 463 BC, from participating in the funeral rites of a family member?

Thanks!

Scott
User avatar
amyntoros
Somatophylax
Posts: 2188
Joined: Sat Oct 11, 2003 2:51 pm
Location: New York City

Re: Funeral Rites

Post by amyntoros »

ScottOden wrote:Greetings, all:

Does anyone know of any specific cultural taboos that would prevent an Athenian bastard (in the classic meaning of the word), circa 463 BC, from participating in the funeral rites of a family member?

Thanks!

Scott

The following references Isaeus who was probably born around 420, but there's this from Daniel Ogden's Greek Bastardy in the Classical and Hellenic Periods (Oxford Classsical Monographs), page 99. (Had this book put carefully aside for sale because, much as I love all Ogden's work, it really doesn't have the particular information I had hoped to find. Luckily it hasn't found a buyer yet. :) )
The distinction between legitimate members of the oikos and others seems to have been considered particulary important in the context of one set of oikos-based rites in particular: funerals. The death of a former head of the oikos above all was a critical occasion, a time at which the oikos was most susceptible to dissolution and at which, consequently, it must be rigorously (re-)defined. It is at this point that those sons or relatives that had been included in the dead man's sacred and holy rites must now, exclusively, bury him and in their turn ensure the continuity of the oikos and its hiera kai hosia. The importance attributed to the continuity of the oikos and its rites is seen in Isaeus' explanation of adoption by the desire of all men 'that their own houses should not become deserted, but that there should be someone to offer sacrifice for the dead and perform the due obsequies for them'. He implies that it is the duty and privilege of a man's legitimate wife and children to bury him, and likewise to attend his tomb and perform the due obsequies. In the same orator's eighth speech the speaker argues that Ciron and his other relatives had recognized him as Ciron's grandchild, and that he himself had allowed his opponent to participate in the funeral of Ciron as his nephew. The conducting of the funeral and the subsequent attendance at the tomb clearly acted as important indicators of legitimacy.
Hope this helps.

Best regards,
Amyntoros

Pothos Lunch Room Monitor
ScottOden
Pezhetairos (foot soldier)
Posts: 121
Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2003 7:12 pm
Location: Southern US
Contact:

Re: Funeral Rites

Post by ScottOden »

Thank you, Amyntoros! That does help!

Best,

Scott
Post Reply