Explain Funerary Customs in Sparta at This Time

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Explain Funerary Customs in Sparta at This Time

Explain funerary customs in Sparta at this time For a question worth 5 marks  It was believed that all souls passed on to the underworld realm known as Hades – not just those who had been bad during life.  Tartaros (hell) was a realm below Hades where disobedient lesser gods were sent for punishment.  Elysium (heaven) was a wondrous realm located at the western end of the earth and inhabited by those in favour of Zeus.  The river Styx ran around the perimeter of Hades seven times.  Charon, the ferryman of the dead, would call out the names of the places within Hades that the boat would be sailing to. Charon also ferried souls across the river Styx.  A coin was usually placed in the mouth as payment to Charon for ferrying the deceased across the Styx.  A Greek funeral was carried out in three stages: the body was prepared and laid out (prothesus or wake),  The body was moved to the place where it would be interred (ekphora or procession),  The body or cremated remains were deposited in the tomb or grave. Spartiates only  Death was only worthy if you dies on campaign or in childbirth  You only had your name inscribed if you died in this way Funeral rites for kings  Death was announced throughout the land  Women going through the city beat cauldrons  One man and one woman in each household had to put on mourning clothes or would be heavily fined.  Spartans, Perioikoi and helots were obliged to attend the funeral  They beat foreheads as a sign of grief, wailing and moaning  Cried that the dead king was the best king that they ever head.

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