Re: Mourning rites

ruthaki · Post by **ruthaki** » Fri Nov 08, 2002 4:19 pm

How many days were the mourning rites in ancient Greece, in particular for the Regent, Antipatros?
I've checked my research files but haven't found the information and I need this tiny detail for my novel. Thanks, I appreciate the valuable input this site offers.

agesilaos · Post by **agesilaos** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 6:33 am

I don't think there was any set number. The period before the funeral would merely be the time it took to organise it with the likely deteriation of the corpse providing an impetus; thus funerals would follow more immediately upon death in summer or in hot climates. The period for mourning would depend on how well loved the deceased was, though long periods would be considered unusual so say a week? Caligula decreed a month for Drusilla and that was abnormal.

ruthaki · Post by **ruthaki** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 2:20 pm

Thanks Karl. I know that the ancient Persians (those who worshipped Ahura Mazda and followed Zoroaster's beliefs) only mourned for three days, believing anything more was excess. But I think the Greeks carried on much longer than that, including their funeral games (which the Persian's didn't believe in either). It probably isn't a crucial detail but I was trying to set up a kind of comparison between the two cultures. Ruthaki

davej · Post by **davej** » Sun Nov 10, 2002 8:40 pm

I can't remember but I am sure Walter Burket's book on Greek Religion has the answer. I will look it up for you. Unfortunatly it will probably only be for Athens, their practices I believe were pretty standard. Sorry I don't have the answer now for you.