...The Egyptian's burial rituals were more focus on the path to the after life, than the actual after life itself. There was three different types of burials that was performed based on how affordable it was. Everyone had deserved one, even if you were too poor to pay for one of the three you still was able to have some form of one to go to the afterlife. Even the mourning was dramatic according to Herodotus (413 BCE), they would plaster their faces in mud, leave the dead with relatives and then wear a girdle while beating themselves on the chest. Mourning was sorrowful but it was to hope the dead would find eternal bliss. Mummification was practiced around 3500 BCE, because they had believed that the dead needed a body to go onto the afterlife in. According to Mark, "The soul was thought to consist of nine separate parts: the Khat was the physical body; the Ka one’s double-form; the Ba a human-headed bird aspect which could speed between earth and the heavens; Shuyet was the shadow self; Akh the immortal, transformed self, Sahuand Sechem aspects of the Akh; Ab was the heart, the source of good and evil; Ren was one’s secret name." Because of these nine parts, they lead to the reasoning behind why they needed to preserve the body. Also during this time it should that Egypt had created a complex form of the soul for their time. But their wealth decided their mummification process. They also decided what the body would be put in to. The first process was the most expensive for when...
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...Theresa Cushion Professor Miner 25 March 2012 Windover Pond Discovered by accident in 1982 by a backhoe operator during construction for a housing development, Windover Pond in Florida is one of the world’s greatest archaeological finds (The Brevard Museum). Located near Titusville in Brevard County, Windover Pond is an ancient, shallow bog pond that was a burial ground for more than 200 Native Americans who lived in the area about 8,000 years ago. (The Brevard Museum). Radiocarbon dating tests indicated the oldest skeletons were buried 8,100 years ago, and the youngest was placed in the ground 6,900 years ago, 3,000 to 4,000 years before the Egyptian pyramids (Suriano, Robert). Windover dates an advanced culture in North America that precedes any previously discovered anywhere else in the world (Suriano, Robert) and the burial site is a planned community cemetery (Nielson, Paula J.). Most significant of the discoveries at Windover Pond are the cloth fragments, the oldest cloth ever found in the Western hemisphere (Suriano, Robert). The cloth was made from the leaves of sabal palm, and the pieces reveal five different methods of fabric making, although no evidence of a loom was found (Suriano, Robert). Some of the fabrics are woven as tightly as a cotton T-shirt, and others are made more loosely twined into blankets, capes, and toga-like garments (Suriano, Robert). A total of ninety-one brains have been recovered from the site, the first time that intact human brains...
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...philosopher Karl Marx and novelist Douglas Adams. The cemetery has wormed its way into pop culture with rumors that the recently deceased George Michael will be buried there alongside his mother. However, the park itself boasts a rich history, and has been a striking piece of London for nearly two centuries. Highgate Cemetery’s overgrown flora, beautiful graves, and thriving wildlife makes it a breathtaking destination for anyone interested in rethinking their relationship with death. London in the 19th century was a minefield of dead cholera patients and plague victims. After a population boom in the early 1800’s, an already corpse-ridden London faced a dilemma: more living residents means more dead bodies. As a result, “Graveyards and burial grounds were crammed in between shops, houses and taverns — wherever there was space.” (“History,” Highgate Cemetery) Eventually, the stench became so unbearable and the health risks became so great that Parliament...
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...one of the popular traditions that are regular to do in most places like in the article that Marian T. Horvat states is in the past, the funeral was held from the home or from funeral parlors. In the former case, rarely practiced in the United States today, the body was prepared to repose in the person’s own bed for twelve hours, during which time only family members were received to offer their last respects and prayers. After this the coffin was placed in the living room, and the bereaved family received condolence visits from friends and neighbors. As a point of honor and respect, the family made sure that at least one person kept watch over the deceased at all hours until the body was taken to the Church for the requiem Mass and then burial. The term wake came from this time of watch. The customs vary in each country, but in general, the deceased is laid out at the family home or the hospital chapel, often in an open coffin. During the visitation period, the body – natural in death – is viewed by family and friends. When possible, the requiem Mass is said “with the body present,” that is, with the deceased’s coffin, already covered, before it is taken to the cemetery (sec. funeral customs). This is an example from the past that is actually still used today. Another funeral tradition that some family members...
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...The concept of afterlife among Romans and Egyptians The concept of afterlife existed among many ancient civilizations; perhaps, depending on their needs, it was met as a way of understanding the present or as a way to predict the future. As such, in order to explain unknown phenomenon that impacted their daily life, early tribes, saw natural events as simple as the rain and the wind or birth and death, as supernatural powers related to the gods, demons, the moon , the sun or to other external driving forces. To protect their tribe and to maintain the order within it, they invoked the spirit of deceased ancestors. However, civilizations evolved with time and their beliefs became more complex and profound. For instance, Ancient Romans and Egyptians believed in the afterlife and both civilizations shared this same underlying idea; nevertheless, the preparation of the dead for the next world and their funeral services differed in many ways. These two civilizations’ strong conviction in the afterlife was expressed through their multifaceted and interesting funeral services and burial rituals. But, unlike the Egyptians that preserved their deceased’s body and placed them in a sarcophagus or coffin, the Romans buried the dead after cremating those bodies. To illustrate their practices, I have chosen two artifacts displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met): a sarcophagus from Ancient Egypt and a cinerary urn from Ancient Roman’s times. Both pieces portray a different...
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...industry, one of the oldest and among the most stable of industries regardless of economic trends, is facing one of the biggest challenges of its existence, and the threat is coming from an unlikely source – their own customers. People’s attitudes towards funerals have been changing and as a result, the number of traditional funerals has been declining. Funeral customs and services are as old as civilization itself. Throughout the history of mankind, every culture and civilization studied has attended to the proper care and disposition of their dead by way of three common things: some type of funeral rites, rituals and ceremonies, a sacred resting place and memorialization (Whittaker, 2005). Researchers have discovered Neanderthal burial grounds dating back to 60,000 BC along with animal antlers and flower remnants placed on the corpse indicating a form of ritual and gifts of remembrance. Primitive man lived in fear and reacted to life events and most natural phenomenon, such as weather, and attributed these acts to that of a higher being. Live and death events were thought to be the acts of spirits. These spirits were frightening as they could not be seen or sensed....
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...some tips to help you shop for funeral services: ●Compare prices from at least two funeral homes. Remember that you can supply your own casket or urn. ●Ask for a price list. The law requires funeral homes to give you written price lists for products and services. ●Resist pressure to buy goods and services you don’t really want or need. ●Avoid emotional overspending. It’s not necessary to have the fanciest casket or the most elaborate funeral to properly honor a loved one. ●Recognize your rights. Laws regarding funerals and burials vary from state to state. It’s a smart move to know which goods or services the law requires you to purchase and which are optional. ●Apply the same smart shopping techniques you use for other major purchases. You can cut costs by limiting the viewing to one day or one hour before the funeral, and by dressing your loved one in a favorite outfit instead of costly burial clothing. ●Shop in advance. It allows you to comparison shop without time constraints, creates an opportunity for family discussion, and lifts some of the burden from your family. 3 The FTC Funeral Rule The FTC enforces the Funeral Rule, which makes it possible for you to choose only the goods and services you want or need and pay only for those you select, whether you are making arrangements when a death occurs or pre-need. The Rule allows you to compare prices among funeral homes. The Rule does not apply to third-party sellers...
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...Modern embalming got its start during the American Civil War in the 1860’s. Families of soldiers killed in the battle wanted to have their bodies returned home. Dr. Thomas Holmes found a way. His system was the forerunner of todays “embalming”. In almost all cultures, an individual’s death is marked by a ritual. Funerals in the United States and a few other countries and cultures serve purposes such as religious, social, and personal (M.Mahon, 2009) Unlike taxes there’s no way to get around death. Our days are numbered. That’s why the world needs funeral directors (Mosca, 2011). Mourning the loss of a loved one is a traumatic experience we must all suffer during our lives. For many of us, making the necessary funeral arrangements while in an emotionally fragile state can be a frustrating, painful experience without the help of an experienced and caring funeral director. The career of a funeral director can be an emotionally rewarding job .Funeral directors are also counselors, aiding people during one of the most difficult times of their lives. Families need compassionate counseling and guidance, and a funeral director can offer support and assistance in making end-of-life decisions. Funeral directors also handle all arrangements . They often need to travel to private homes, places of worship, and cemeteries and crematoriums. They also need to travel to hospitals and accident sites to transfer bodies. Becoming a funeral director requires education, licensing...
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...Egyptologists today are not sure what sorts of tools were used to cut the massive amounts of stone. They make different hypotheses and test different materials based on what was available to Egyptians. Copper was one material that was tested and failed to last long enough under the strain of cutting into the stone. Quartz was a material that was able to “bite” into the stone wall and cut it efficiently and has been thought to be used for tools. A lot of tools either had been stolen or just simply did not survive, so archaeologists have to make estimates of what the tools were like. This can be done by testing different concepts of tools, as well as looking at the different cuts made into the stone, which would give evidence as to how the tools...
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...that helped to unify Egypt. As far back as 5,500 BC early humans settled the area known as Lower Egypt (the northern section of the Nile) because the Nile such a dependable source of water, transportation, and irrigation which supported agriculture which in turn supported settlements. The unification of the upper and lower Nile (the Nile is one of the few rivers in the world that flows South to North, therefore the “upper” section is actually South and the “lower” section is actually North) to create Ancient Egypt is believed to have taken place around 3150 BC. (“Egyptian History Before & During Roman Rule”, http://www.muhlenberg.edu/library/papyri/egyptian_history.html) The fact that Romans or Greeks were in Egypt does not in itself prove that the Egyptian culture was affected by Rome. To prove that theory I’d like to point to three historical findings that show a definitive Roman influence on the Egyptian way of life. The first historical finding comes in the form of a boat. The Ploion Hellenikon was a style of Nile transport craft which was very different from other Nile vessels of the time. Though the boats both discovered and described vary in size and carrying capacity they are very similar in the fact that they store their...
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...During the Naqada II phase there was a considerable development of stone working techniques. In turn, the Egyptian society now seemed to have the perfect base to develop a class of skilled artisans in the service of the elite. Urban centers that brought together workshops, clients and services necessary for trade were growing. Beyond the external aspects of shape and size, the Egyptians were also concerned with the nature of the materials with which they worked. The Egyptians possessed a great variety of stones and many of these were used from the earliest periods. During the Naqada II phase (ca. 3500 to ca. 3200 BC) there was a considerable development of stone working techniques. Throughout the Nile and the desert, especially in the Wadi...
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...architecture: colossal temples, pyramids and the enormous Sphinx. The Egyptian pyramids are the most famous of all the ancient monuments, the only remaining wonder of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Just as life arose from the waters, the seeds of civilization were first sown along the banks of the Nile. This mighty river, which flows north from the heart of Africa to the Mediterranean Sea, nourished the growth of the pharaonic kingdom. The long, narrow flood plain was a magnet for life, attracting people, animals and plants to its banks. In pre-dynastic times, nomadic hunters settled in the valley and began to grow crops to supplement their food supply. Seen as a gift from the gods, the annual flooding of the river deposited nutrient rich silt over the land, creating ideal conditions for growing wheat, flax and other crops. The first communal project of this fledgling society was the building of irrigation canals for agricultural purposes. The sun was a principal deity whose passage across the sky represented the eternal cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The pharaohs were seen as gods, divine representatives on earth who, through rituals, ensured the continuation of life. After death, they became immortal, joining the gods in the afterworld. The Egyptians also believed that the body and soul were important to human existence, in life and in death. Their funerary practices, such as mummification and burial in tombs, were designed to assist the deceased find their way in...
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...Many of the great works of ancient Egypt depicts regular and detailed depictions of human beings and the nature. Moreover, due to the highly religious nature of ancient Egyptian civilization, Egyptian artists have depicted gods, goddesses, and Pharaohs. The function was to describe their divine nature. Ancient Egyptian art is characterized by the idea of order. Symbolism and the use of simple geometry played an important role in establishing sense of order. Nonetheless, many Egyptian arts were not meant to be seen and were hidden from the commoners. For instance, the magnificent treasures of Tutankhamun were not to be seen by people. The first dwellers of the Nile Valley started making engraved drawings on the steep high faces of rocks, in the early eighth millennium BC .They were believed to be a manner of recording data. The depiction of the essential day today activities of their lives, like wild games, hunting scenes, river boating and domesticating animals were among the drawings. The art of the Predynastic period has endured in the form of carved stone , ivory grave goods, pottery vessels, which were placed near the dead body in burial cavities. Figures of living beings dedicated in fulfillment of a vow, were often female statuettes made of pottery and ivory. They may have related to early fertility followers of religious beliefs, as they amplified sexual features. Some of the painted scenes on pottery vessels show the prehistoric rock-carvings and styles and preoccupations...
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...The Ancient Egyptians view of the underworld was very unique and different, especially when compared to the beliefs of modern day religions. The myth “The Death of Osiris” played a major role in their faith in a continued existence after death, their complex funeral rites, and their desire for immortality. This influenced their everyday life and was a prominent role in their myth, religion and culture. The Osiris myth is arguably one of the most well known Egyptian myths to this day. This myth revolves primarily on the death and rebirth Osiris. It shows his transcendence from the primeval king of Egypt to the king of the dead, Osiris. The myth of Osiris is the most influential myth in Ancient Egyptian times due to the significance of Osiris’...
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...Egyptian art is expressed in many forms, such as paintings and sculptures. It is both physically attractive, and highly symbolic. Because of the highly religious nature of Ancient Egyptian civilization, many of the great works of ancient Egypt depict gods, goddesses, and Pharaohs, who were also considered divine. During my visit to the Metropolitan museum of art, I performed an analysis on the Egyptian sculpture of Isis-Aphrodite, a symbolic goddess in Egyptian culture. The sculpture of Isis-Aphrodite dates to the Roman period. This time period was around the second century A.D. The Metropolitan museum of art purchased the sculpture in 1991. The piece of Isis-Aphrodite is a terracotta figure. It is made of alluvial clay. It is painted with brown, black, red, and pink paint on a white englobe. This rather small delicately painted figurine of Isis gives great gratification to sight upon first glance. It has a height of only 19.5 inches, and a width of approximately 5 inches. It is however, truly astonishing. The sculpture has a narrow expressionless face. She has brown shoulder length hair is fixed with twists like curls, and bangs. Aside from a few elaborate accessories, Isis is nude. Isis wears a large attention grabbing crown on her head, which steals the emphasis from other features. The crown is actually an exaggerated calathos (the crown of Egyptian Greco-Roman deities) emblazoned with the sun disk and horns of Isis. She also wears a bracelet, anklet, and sash. The...
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