1. Death
By: Julie

2. Ancient Mesopotamians
• The Mesopotamians were not sure about what happened after death.
• They believed that dead people could bless and curse their children and grand-
children by bringing or not bringing them children.
• They buried their dead with food, because they believed excessively skinny
corpses would haunt the living as scary ghosts. Archeologists have found Akkadian
graves filled with skeletons which have hands grasping cups beside their faces.
• In Mesopotamia, people cared a lot about burying the dead properly and nicely,
because if they didn’t take care of the dead well, the dead will transform into
ghosts and haunt the living. The dead people could not rest in peace in the
Underworld, and if they didn’t get enough regular supplies of food, they would
starve. Almost everybody had a funeral; only criminals or women who had
abortions or died having a baby didn’t get one which is so unhappy.

3. Royal Mesopotamian Rulers
• The rulers’ tombs were filled with rich and expensive objects made with
precious stones and gold to enter into the afterlife.
• When a royal died, musicians, servants, family members, handmaidens,
and oxen were killed and were buried as well.
• When the Queen Pu-abi died, her tomb contained jewelry such as ten gold
rings, necklace made of lapis lazuli, and a cape made out of gold, silver,
carnelian beads, etc. Beside her, there was a four-foot gold drinking straw,
wreaths, weapons, gold tweezers, pins, and diadems.
• Ur royal tombs were filled with musical instruments and animals that pull
carts such as oxen. The tombs of Ashur were placed underneath a huge
palace and the dead bodies were put into sarcophagi made of stone. The
dead people were put into coffins made out of wood and they were given
clothing, games, weapons, treasures, food, and drink.

4. • The Sumerians used baskets made out of braided twigs which were put into brick
coffins for the dead. They arranged their dead in regular rows organized into
streets and lanes. Wealthy people were buried with their favorite objects made of
gold, silver, precious stones, etc. The ordinary people were buried with common
objects made of stone, not precious metals or jewels.
• In Ancient Mesopotamia, people feared the dead, because they thought that evil
spirits could escape from the Underworld and cause big problems for the living as
they entered their bodies through their ears. Also, the dead could rise up and
torture the living if they didn’t give proper care and burial to the dead.
Consequently, even dead enemies were buried properly so this won’t happen.
Some babies were buried in cooking pots and placed underneath the floors of
houses which I don’t know why.
• The Mesopotamians had a very different understanding of death from the
Egyptians. For them, death was scary, because they believed that people were
made from clay mixed with the blood of a god, which made them partly immortal.
Therefore, the spirit of the dead person didn’t die after death; it didn’t move on
instead it suffered unhappy afterlife. The soul lived underground and ate only clay
and dust with no healthy water to drink. The only nice thing was the food that
their relatives left for them.

5. • The dead were largely feared in Ancient Mesopotamia. It was thought that distressed,
murdered and evil spirits could escape the land of the death to cause havoc among the
living through entering the bodies of the living through their ears. Likewise, the dead
could rise up and torment the living if not given a proper burial, so even the bodies of
enemies were buried in a manner such as to prevent this from happening. Most were
buried in cemeteries, but the bodies of babies have been found under the floors of
houses, often curiously buried in cooking pots.
• The Mesopotamians, a civilization existing in and around modern day Iraq around the
same time as the time of Pharaohs of Egypt had a very different view of death. For
them, death was something to be feared. In the Mesopotamian tradition, humans were
created from clay mixed with the blood of a sacrificed god. Thus, being partly immortal,
the spirit did not die after death but lingered on to suffer a dismal afterlife. While
retaining all the needs and emotions of the living, after death the soul would live a dark
and subterranean existence eating only dust and clay in a place deprived of drinkable
water. The only respite from this existence was the food and offerings of their
descendants. This meant that the confiscation of an enemy’s body from the care of the
family was a terrible punishment.

6. Tomb of Queen Pu-abi that
is filled with jewelries ,
gold, etc..
Incantation bowl from Nippur
Babylonian coffin
From the royal graves
Mesopotamian Funeral
Uruk plate

7. Ancient Egypt
• Ancient Egyptians spent a lot of time thinking and
preparing for death and the afterlife. The pyramids are
proof of how important death was to ancient Egypt.
• They believed that it was crucial to preserve the
physical body. They developed an elaborate process
called Mummification which involves using
chemicals, removing organs and then wrapping the
body in strips of linen cloth. A person’s khat was like a
double; it had to be fed and watered like a person. It
enjoyed smelling the incense and it gave
comfort, protection, and safety.

8. • There was also something called the ba which
was pictured as a falcon bird with a human head.
It could enter the body and it was responsible for
the body. It was like a soul. There were other
spiritual aspects of a dead such as ren, sekhem,
and khu.
• The Egyptians thought the heart was the main
part of the human body and the heart was said to
be source of life and living. When they embalmed
the body, they left the heart in or took it out and
replaced it in the thorax.

9. • The Egyptians were very careful to provide the dead with
everything that they needed for the afterlife, because they
viewed as a continuation of life before death. The tombs of
regular people had some food, jewelry, favorite objects,
and other things. The wealthy people put in artistic objects
made out of gold and precious stones such as beautiful
bowls and jugs.
• In the pyramids, pictures were painted by the Egyptians to
show a happy life filled with blessings such as fertile fields,
good crops, special events with musicians and happy
families.
• Death was very important to the Egyptians who passed on
their belief that a person faced judgment of their life after
death.

10. Picture painted by the Egyptians
Mummy
Mummy
Pyramids
Another picture painted by the Egyptians

11. Ancient Rome
• The Romans had an interesting set of beliefs about death. When a
person died, his or her soul started on a journey to the River Styx
on the way to the Underworld where the dead lived. If the dead
didn’t have a gold coin, Charon the Ferryman couldn’t allow him or
her to go to the Underworld without permission. You had to pass a
three-headed dog without getting eaten and having a safe journey.
First, you had to have a trial with a judge named Dis Pater who
decided where you would end up going. The next
level, Minos, Rhadamanthos and Aeacus were the three judges and
they demanded and account of your life. The good and kind people
went to Elysian Fields, while others went to Fields of Asphodel
where they lived as Shades. A third group who is very bad
indeed, went to Tartarus where it’s punishment and torture always.

12. • In the first stage, in the roman funeral, the body was
prepared usually by undertakers, who cleaned and dressed
the body. Next, they put pearls or beeswax in the dead
person’s nostrils to prevent evil spirits getting in the dead
body and controlling it. Then the undertaker made sure
that the body had everything it needed for the after life
such as food, money, jewelry, clothes, and eating utensils.
• The second stage of mourning was very short for poor
people. The body was cremated the day after death, but
rich people had a much longer mourning period. They
displayed the body on a marble slab and people came to
pay their respects. They would never let the dead body be
alone, because that could cause anger and support
haunting nightmares.

13. • After, there was a funeral procession which showed what
kind of life the person had. If you were wealthy, there
would be a giant colorful parade to take them to the place
of burial. There were dancers, mimes, and sometimes,
hired mourners. For military service people, family
members rode in chariots with horses and their army
colleagues went with the body. The people, who went to
the procession, often wore red or white robes to show that
they were in mourning. For an important person, there was
a stop at the Forum where the oldest son gave a speech
about his father or mother.
• There were two choices of disposal for dead bodies which
were cremation or burial. If the person were cremated, the
body was placed on top of a funeral pyre.

14. Tartarus
Fields of Asphodel Elysian Fields

15. Modern Canada
• Most people have a funeral or memorial service to celebrate the life of the person
who died. People find out about the funeral by reading the obituary notice in the
newspaper or computer. The service is sometimes held in a church {Christian},
{Synagogue}, {Jewish}, and other places of worship. It can also be held in a funeral
parlour where the body is sometimes displayed for people to see and pay their
respects. The body is put into a casket, plain or fancy, depending on how wealthy
the family is, and placed in car big black car called a Hearse for transportation first
to the church and then to the cemetery where it is put in the ground. Prayers are
said and then earth is put on top of the casket before workers bury it completely.
Flowers and sometimes pictures are very important part of funeral rights in
Canada. Flowers from the church service are often taken to the grave and left
there to show the dead person respect. In most cemeteries, the graves are
arranged neatly in rows and on the top of the each grave; there is a grave stone
with the dead person’s name and birth and death dates. A wealthy family may put
a really big stone to honor the dead person, but most people have a simple stone.
If the person prefers to be cremated, the ashes may be put into a small space in
the cemetery. Some people like to scatter the ashes and other people like to keep
the ashes at home to honor memory of the good times with that dead person.

16. • If a person served in the military, there is a special
ceremony for him or her to show respect and honor their
service. The casket may be covered with the flag. A high
military official may give a speech named a Eulogy and they
play a sad song on the bugle called Taps. This person may
be buried in a special military cemetery. When a lot of
soldiers died, their names may be inscribed on a giant
stone called a War Memorial.
• It is customary to send flowers and sympathy notes to the
family of the dead person called the deceased. Today, many
families ask people not to send flowers but give money
instead to the person’s favorite charity. For example, if
someone died who loved animals; his or her family would
encourage donations to the SPCA.

17. Ceremonial Funeral Service for
Margaret Thatcher Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
CasketGrave

18. Vikings
• They estimated that when a Viking dies, he or she will unite with the gods
in afterlife.
• Vikings who were men, were buried in a grave filled with various weapons
and tools, but women Vikings were buried in a grave which were filled
with jewellery and equipments.
• The Vikings weren’t only buried in graves, they were buried in boats or
even ships. Few Vikings were buried in a ring made of stones which the
shape turned out to be a boat.
• People believe that Vikings went on a boat to travel to afterlife. If they had
no real boats, they had stones t go there which is very interesting.

19. • In the ancient Norse {Vikings} belief, there are two types of
soul. It’s a ‘free soul’ or ‘dream soul that could just leave the
Vikings’ body during sleep, ecstasy, trance, and
unconsciousness.
• When a Viking died, on the tumulus, people traditionally put
out beer and food. If the people took care of a dead Viking ,
he or she will come back to keep the homestead and people
safe. People can bury the Viking or burn him or her to ashes.
• When a Viking died and seven days passes by, people will
celebrate a funeral ale called sjaund. People paid respect and
honored the Viking as everyone else.

20. Girl Viking
Men Vikings
Grave
Weapons & Tools
Jewelry

21. Bibliography
• "About Vikings." The Expedition on the ancient way of vikings. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013. <http://www.lkf.lv/vikingi/ENG/vikings.html>.
• "Ancient Egyptians and kissing death." Worldend.info. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2013. <http://www.worldend.info/end-of-the-world/ancient-
writings/ancient-egyptians-and-kissing-death/>.
• "Ancient Egypt • Mummification." egypt tour info. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2013. <http://www.egypttourinfo.com/ancient-egypt-
mummification.html>.
• Armaan. "City-Lights-of-Montreal-Quebec-Canada-wallpaper." hd Wallpapers Pk. N.p., 28 Mar. 2013. Web. 16 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.hdwallpaperspk.com/canada-hd-wallpapers/city-lights-of-montreal-quebec-canada-wallpaper/>.
• "Bayes and Bayes Theorem." Bayesian Research Conference. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013.
<http://psych.fullerton.edu/mbirnbaum/bayes/bayeslinks.htm>.
• China photos. "Death in Ancient Civilisations / Gallery." History. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. <http://www.history.co.uk/explore-history/history-of-
death/death-in-ancient-civilisations/gallery.html>.
• "Cicero and Cato vs. Caesar; Caesar vs. Pompey; Caesar Wins All, Then is Murdered." The Pavellas Perspective. N.p., 14 Jan. 2011. Web. 13 Apr. 2013.
<http://pavellas.com/tag/conspirata-a-novel-of-ancient-rome/>.
• Couts, Andrew. "Infra-red satellite imagery unveils 17 lost Egyptian pyramids." DIGITAL TRENDS. N.p., 25 May 2011. Web. 13 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/infra-red-satellite-imagry-unveils-17-lost-egyptian-pyramids/>.
• Davies, Arthur Bowen. 'Elysian Fields', undated oil on canvas painting by Arthur B. Davies, The Phillips Collection (Washington, D. C.). WIKIMEDIA
COMMON. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2013. <http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Davies-
Elysian_Fields,_undated_oil_on_canvas_painting,_The_Phillips_Collection_(Washington,_D._C.).jpg>.
• "Death." Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/154412/death/22185/Mesopotamia>.
• "death." Encyclopedia Britannica Facts matter. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/154412/death/22184/Ancient-Egypt>.
• "Death in Ancient Egypt." ORACLEThinkQuest. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2013. <http://library.thinkquest.org/J002046F/death_in_ancient_egypt.htm>.
• "Death in Ancient Rome." wikia. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2013. <http://death.wikia.com/wiki/Death_in_Ancient_Rome>.
• "Death in Norse paganism." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 12 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Apr. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_in_Norse_paganism>.
• "Dragons, Dreamworks." À voir et à manger. Le blog de Nicolinux, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013. <http://voiretmanger.fr/2010/04/02/dragons-
dreamworks/>.
• "Egyptian Afterlife Beliefs." Country facts The world at your fingertips. N.p., 29 Mar. 2010. Web. 13 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/egypt/Egyptian-Afterlife-Beliefs/3182>.
• "EGYPTIAN BURIAL PRACTICES: MUMMIFICATION." EGYPTIAN BURIAL PRACTICES: MUMMIFICATION. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.leyden212.org/depart/sped/mgonzalez/egypt/webpage.htm>.

22. • "Egyptian Mummies." art history. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2013. <http://laavanyasuaat.blogspot.ca/2012/10/egyptian-mummies-it-was-very-important.html>.
• "Elysium- Elysian Field." crystalink.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2013. <http://www.crystalinks.com/elysium.html>.
• "The Funeral Casket." The Funeral Program Site. com. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013. <http://www.funeralprogram-site.com/funeral-arrangements/the-funeral-casket-
2>.
• Giordano, Luca. "The Death of Seneca, by Luca Giordano 1684, in the Louvre." About.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2013.
<http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/romeancientrome/ig/Ancient-Rome/Death-of-Seneca.htm>.
• Griffin, Bauer. "Ceremonial Funeral Service for Margaret Thatcher 9." ZIMBIO. N.p., 17 Apr. 2013. Web. 17 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/CVHYGr0RMoQ/Ceremonial+Funeral+Service+Margaret+Thatcher/hh_XFYuHmnA>.
• "Guardian of Tartarus." deviantART. Cannibalus, n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2013. <http://cannibalus.deviantart.com/art/Guardian-of-Tartarus-340630460>.
• Hays, Jeffrey. "MESOPOTAMIAN VIEW ON THE AFTERLIFE AND UNDERWORLD." FACTS AND DETAILS. N.p., Mar. 2011. Web. 9 Apr. 2013.
<http://factsanddetails.com/world.php?itemid=1523&catid=56>.
• "The History Channel’s new series: Vikings!" BYRNEHOLICS. BYRNEHOLICS, n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2013. <http://www.byrneholics.com/2012/news/gabriel-byrne/tv/the-
history-channels-new-series-vikings/>.
• "History of Death / Death in Ancient Civilisations." History. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. <http://www.history.co.uk/explore-history/history-of-death/death-in-
ancient-civilisations.html>.
• "How To Train Your Dragon." AF ANIMAFILMS. N.p., Mar. 2010. Web. 18 Apr. 2013. <http://feature-animation.niceboard.com/t197-how-to-train-your-dragon-26-
mars-2010>.
• It's like a face of a scary skull. gdefon.ru. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2013. <http://www.gdefon.com/download/skull_mantle_Gothic_death/3707/1600x1200>.
• "Mesopotamia – Kart." Aratta – Sivilisasjonens vugge. Aratta – Sivilisasjonens vugge, n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2013. <http://aratta.wordpress.com/mesopotamia-map/>.
• "Mesopotamian City." deviantART. r-w-shilling, n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2013. <http://r-w-shilling.deviantart.com/art/Mesopotamian-City-183881032>.
• O'Brien, Alexandra A. "Death in Ancient Egypt." ORIENTAL INSTITUTE RESEARCH ARCHIVES. N.p., 10 Aug. 1999. Web. 13 Apr. 2013.
<http://oi.uchicago.edu/OI/DEPT/RA/ABZU/DEATH.HTML>.
• "PAST CIVILISATIONS." Truth of the Life of This World. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2013. <http://www.truthofthisworld.com/civilisations.html>.
• "Patterson grave." WIKIMEDIA COMMONS. Anthony22, 15 Mar. 2010. Web. 18 Apr. 2013. <http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:01_Patterson_grave.JPG>.
• Pippo-b. Sepolcro degli Scipioni, Roma, entrata. Wikipedia. N.p., 29 Mar. 2009. Web. 17 Apr. 2013.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sepolcro_degli_Scipioni_001_Entrata.jpg>.
• "Pyramids, Giza, Egypt Mystic Journey Wallpaper." BEAUTYPLACES. BEAUTYPLACES, 21 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Apr. 2013. <http://beauty-places.com/the-egypt-
pyramids/>.
• "Roman funerals and burial." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 7 Mar. 2013. Web. 13 Apr. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_funerals_and_burial>.
• "Still Standing, the Forum ,Ancient Rome Wallpaper." scenicreflections. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.scenicreflections.com/download/582248/Still_Standing,__the_Forum_,Ancient_Rome_Wallpaper/>.
• Torres, John. English: Australian War Memorial, Canberra. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, 21 Feb. 2006. Web. 18 Apr. 2013.
<http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:War_memorial_01.jpg>.
• "Viking Burial Customs." Danishnet.com. Danishnet.com, n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2013. <http://www.danishnet.com/info.php/vikings/burial-customs-134.html>.
• "Viking Burial Customs and Food." Lore Saga. Lore Saga, n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2013. <http://lore-and-saga.co.uk/html/viking_burials.html>.
• Viking Leatherworking tools. Yoalir Vikings. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013. <http://www.ydalir.co.uk/gallery/2002/amlwch/tools.htm>.
• "Viking Set." TURBOSQUID. lluque, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013. <http://www.turbosquid.com/FullPreview/Index.cfm/ID/203324>.