Funeral Practices Through the Ages

Memorialization of departed loved ones seems to be an integral part of human nature that can be traced back to the dawn of civilization. Throughout prehistoric times and into recorded history, there is a common thread of honoring the dead and believing in an afterlife. As early as 35,000 BC, Cro-Magnon man practiced ritual funerals.

The Egyptian civilization had a strong belief in the afterlife. Huge pyramids, the largest tombs in the world, served as the last resting place for Egyptian rulers and important government officials. Through the process of mummification, the body was preserved for its afterlife. Tombs were elaborately outfitted with everything the deceased might need after death including food, tools, eating utensils, jewelry, etc. Artifacts unearthed at Egyptian burial sites reveal a fascinating glimpse into Egyptian life.

The ancient Greeks believed that improper burial procedures and failing to provide adequate offerings for the gods would lead to torment in the afterlife. The Greeks made sure that their dead were buried with a coin for Charon, the boatman who ferried souls across the river Styx and a honey cake for Cerberus, the three-headed dog who guarded the gate of Hades.

The Greeks buried their dead until about 1000 BC when cremation became the preferred method for disposition of the body. Cremation was first used as a practical solution to death on the battlefield. Urns filled with the ashes of fallen soldiers were easier to return to grieving relatives. Ash filled urns also allowed for state funerals weeks or even months after a hero's death.

The Romans also cremated the deceased and developed columbariums which contained niches for storing urns containing ashes. They also used a vessel called a lachrymatory to catch and store the tears of mourners. The concept of a funeral director evolved in ancient Rome with the growth of the mortuary industry which centered on cremation and elaborate rituals.

During the Middle Ages and up to the end of Colonial Times in America, funerals tended to be simple affairs conducted in homes according to local customs and religious practices. Families lived close together and were part of a tightly knit community so it was possible for friends and loved ones to attend funeral ceremonies and make personal visits to console the bereaved.

Etiquette for those in mourning was strict. Custom dictated the wearing of black for immediate family members even children for lengthy periods following the death; social activities were severely restricted and condolence notes were written on black-bordered white stationery.
                                                                            
The modern practice of embalming was developed by Thomas Holmes, who was born in New York City in 1817. He practiced during the Civil War upon officers who were killed in battle, and whose families wanted their bodies returned home for burial. Abraham Lincoln was the first president to be embalmed which allowed him to be honored with 12 separate funerals over a 20 day period. Holmes returned to Brooklyn after the war and practiced as a doctor and druggist as well as an embalmer.    

By 1900, the role of the funeral director in organizing final ceremonies and giving solace to grieving survivors was recognized as a profession. Today's funeral directors must complete a rigorous educational and licensing procedure before they begin helping families to deal with the death of a loved one.

Although funeral rites have changed over the centuries and may vary from culture to culture, their original purpose remains -- to memorialize the person's life and provide comfort for those who mourn.

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(Sources: R.I.P. the Complete Book of Death and Dying, Constance Jones; Death in Early America, Margaret M. Coffin)