Death and Burial — OCR GCSE Classical Civilisation

Death and Burial in Classical Civilisation (OCR GCSE) explores Greek and Roman funerary practices, beliefs about the afterlife, and the importance of proper burial. It covers sources like Homer's Iliad, the Greek vases, Roman epitaphs, and the role of the state in burial, highlighting how these reflect societal values and religious beliefs.

Death and Burial is a fascinating topic in Classical Civilisation that reveals the core values and beliefs of ancient Greek and Roman societies. For the Greeks, death was a transition to the Underworld, a shadowy realm ruled by Hades, where the soul (psyche) continued a diminished existence. Proper burial was not just a family duty but a religious obligation, as the unburied dead could not cross the River Styx and would wander restlessly, as Homer vividly portrays in the Iliad. The rituals of prothesis (laying out), ekphora (procession), and the deposition of grave goods like lekythoi and kouroi were designed to honour the deceased and ensure their safe journey.

In Rome, death was also a significant social event, especially for the elite. Funerals were public spectacles, with wax masks (imagines) of ancestors worn by actors, and eulogies (laudationes) delivered in the forum. Tombs were built along major roads to display status, and festivals like Parentalia and Lemuria honoured the dead. The Romans believed in the Manes, spirits of the dead, who required offerings to remain benevolent. Both cultures shared a fear of dying without proper burial, which is why even enemies were often buried, as seen in Sophocles' Antigone.

This topic is central to the OCR GCSE syllabus because it connects literature, art, and archaeology. You will study primary sources such as Homer's Iliad, vase paintings, and Roman epitaphs, learning how to analyse them for evidence. Understanding death and burial also helps you appreciate other aspects of classical culture, such as religion, social hierarchy, and the role of the state. Mastery of this topic will enable you to answer source-based questions with confidence and develop a deeper understanding of the ancient world.

• →Prothesis and ekphora: The Greek stages of mourning and procession to the grave.
• →The Underworld: Greek belief in Hades, with rivers like Styx and judges like Minos.
• →Roman imagines: Wax masks of ancestors used in funerals to display lineage.
• →Grave goods: Objects buried with the dead, such as lekythoi, jewellery, and coins for Charon.
• →Festivals of the dead: Greek Genesia and Roman Parentalia, which honoured ancestors.

• Understanding of temple layout including the naos/cella and cult statue
• Knowledge of the position and function of the altar
• Roles and responsibilities of Greek officials (hiereus, hiereia, mantis)
• Roles and responsibilities of Roman officials (Pontiffs, Pontifex Maximus, Augurs, Vestal Virgins, Haruspex)
• Understanding the purpose and process of animal sacrifice
• Ability to compare Greek and Roman temple use and religious practices
• Knowledge of specific prescribed temples: Parthenon, Temple of Zeus at Olympia, Pantheon, Temple of Fortuna Virilis

• 💡Ensure you can identify and describe the key features of the prescribed temples
• 💡Be prepared to compare the role of priests and priestesses in both cultures
• 💡Use specific terminology (e.g., naos, cella, hiereus, haruspex) accurately
• 💡Practice linking visual evidence from temple architecture to the literary descriptions of sacrifice
• 💡Always use specific examples from the sources you have studied, such as Homer's description of Patroclus' funeral or a vase painting showing prothesis. This shows the examiner you have engaged with the material.
• 💡When comparing Greek and Roman practices, structure your answer clearly, using a point-by-point approach. For example, discuss burial rites, tomb types, and festivals separately.
• 💡Remember to link practices to beliefs. For instance, explain that the coin in the mouth was for Charon, showing the belief in the journey to the Underworld. This demonstrates deeper understanding.

• Confusing the roles of specific Greek and Roman religious officials
• Failing to link the physical layout of the temple to its religious function
• Generalising religious practices without distinguishing between Greek and Roman contexts
• Neglecting to use both literary and visual/material evidence in arguments
• Misconception: Greeks and Romans had identical burial practices. Correction: While both cremated and inhumed, Greeks focused on family tombs and private rites, while Romans had public funerals and monumental tombs.
• Misconception: The Greeks believed in a pleasant afterlife for all. Correction: Most souls went to a shadowy existence in the Underworld; only heroes and the virtuous earned rewards in Elysium, while the wicked faced punishment.
• Misconception: The Romans did not fear the dead. Correction: They believed in restless spirits (lemures) and held festivals like Lemuria to appease them, showing a fear of the unburied or improperly honoured dead.

1. 1Week 1: Focus on Greek practices. Read the relevant sections of Homer's Iliad (Book 23) and study images of lekythoi and kouroi. Make notes on the stages of burial and the role of women.
2. 2Week 2: Study Roman practices. Research the Lex Julia, imagines, and tombs along the Via Appia. Compare with Greek practices using a Venn diagram.
3. 3Week 3: Revise key terms and beliefs. Use flashcards for terms like prothesis, ekphora, and Manes. Practice answering 6-mark questions on beliefs about the afterlife.
4. 4Week 4: Consolidate with past paper questions. Focus on source-based questions and compare/contrast essays. Review examiner feedback to improve.

• 📋Source-based questions: You will be given an image of a vase or tomb and asked to describe what it shows and explain its significance. Practice analysing visual sources for details like clothing, gestures, and objects.
• 📋Comparison questions: These ask you to compare Greek and Roman practices. Use a clear structure, e.g., 'Both... However, the Greeks... while the Romans...'
• 📋Belief questions: These focus on the afterlife and the importance of burial. Use literary sources like Homer and Virgil to support your points.
• 📋Evaluation questions: These may ask you to assess the importance of burial in society. Consider social, religious, and political factors.