Religion: tombs, death and funerary beliefs/practices
By Sarah Chen
Concepts and terminology (in alphabetical order):
Bisellum – The seat in the front row of the theatre
Inhumation – Burial
Maiores – Wax masks of their ancestors
Paterfamilias – the head of the Roman family; a juridical entity who holds the patria potestas.
Patria Potestas – the power vested in the paterfamilias or head of the Roman family with respect to his wife, natural or adopted children, and agnatic descendants: title to family property is vested exclusively in the paterfamilias. Property acquired by a family member becomes family property, and no family member can enter into a transaction in his or her own right.
Praeficae – Mourners
Schola – Semicircular tomb
STTL also, “Sit, Tibi Terra Levis.” – “May the earth be light upon you.”
Bisellum – The seat in the front row of the theatre
Inhumation – Burial
Maiores – Wax masks of their ancestors
Paterfamilias – the head of the Roman family; a juridical entity who holds the patria potestas.
Patria Potestas – the power vested in the paterfamilias or head of the Roman family with respect to his wife, natural or adopted children, and agnatic descendants: title to family property is vested exclusively in the paterfamilias. Property acquired by a family member becomes family property, and no family member can enter into a transaction in his or her own right.
Praeficae – Mourners
Schola – Semicircular tomb
STTL also, “Sit, Tibi Terra Levis.” – “May the earth be light upon you.”
Factual Information on both Cities:
Tombs
Ø Main source of information about death and burial at Pompeii à inscriptions in the necropoleis or cemeteries
Ø Tombs of Herculaneum à have not yet been excavated because of current residents
Ø Varied from the plainest enclosure made of brick to the most elaborate monument depending on a family or an individual’s social status.
Ø Some decorated with bas – reliefs à reveals their occupations and contributions to the Pompeian society
Ø Rarely belonged to an individual
Ø Popular type is featured with niches in its façade for the urns of all members of the household
Ø Inscriptions on the monuments à the name and rank of the person, vital information about their lives, public works and activities
Ø Problem à few children or slaves are represented
Funerary
Ø Funeral Procession à musicians and professional mourners
Ø Family members wore wax masks à the protectors of their lineage were also present, also provides an extended link between the living and dead
Ø Family rites were performed and after, it was the paterfamilias who will make sure that the deceased have received proper burial rites
Ø Families who were too poor to pay and stay in a funeral club, they did not believe that they were able to live on in the next life
Tombs
Ø Main source of information about death and burial at Pompeii à inscriptions in the necropoleis or cemeteries
Ø Tombs of Herculaneum à have not yet been excavated because of current residents
Ø Varied from the plainest enclosure made of brick to the most elaborate monument depending on a family or an individual’s social status.
Ø Some decorated with bas – reliefs à reveals their occupations and contributions to the Pompeian society
Ø Rarely belonged to an individual
Ø Popular type is featured with niches in its façade for the urns of all members of the household
Ø Inscriptions on the monuments à the name and rank of the person, vital information about their lives, public works and activities
Ø Problem à few children or slaves are represented
Funerary
Ø Funeral Procession à musicians and professional mourners
Ø Family members wore wax masks à the protectors of their lineage were also present, also provides an extended link between the living and dead
Ø Family rites were performed and after, it was the paterfamilias who will make sure that the deceased have received proper burial rites
Ø Families who were too poor to pay and stay in a funeral club, they did not believe that they were able to live on in the next life
Archaeological and Written Evidence: (Download pdf file)
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Reference to books and websites:
Books
Cities of Vesuvius – Pompeii and Herculaneum, Pamela Bradley, Pg 161 – 162
Antiquity 2 (Third Edition) – Interpreting the Past, Oxford, Pg 57
Websites
http://www.forumromanum.org/life/johnston_14.html#467
http://pda.physorg.com/news/2012-01-ancient-pompeii-trash-tombs.html
Books
Cities of Vesuvius – Pompeii and Herculaneum, Pamela Bradley, Pg 161 – 162
Antiquity 2 (Third Edition) – Interpreting the Past, Oxford, Pg 57
Websites
http://www.forumromanum.org/life/johnston_14.html#467
http://pda.physorg.com/news/2012-01-ancient-pompeii-trash-tombs.html