Login | Register

Death and the afterlife in Mycenaean thought

Title:

Death and the afterlife in Mycenaean thought

Katsapis, Antonia (2006) Death and the afterlife in Mycenaean thought. Masters thesis, Concordia University.

[thumbnail of MR14383.pdf]
Preview
Text (application/pdf)
MR14383.pdf - Accepted Version
7MB

Abstract

By examining archaeological evidence in the form of grave findings and textual evidence dating from or relevant to the period, this thesis aims to reconstruct Mycenaean eschatological beliefs and mortuary practices. Despite the plethora of archaeological findings dated to the Bronze Age, specifically on the Greek Mainland from the 16 th to 13 th centuries B.C., very little is actually known about Mycenaean religion; therefore, Mycenaean grave architecture and the contents found in graves will be considered in comparison with evidence from Minoan Crete and the Near East, other Bronze Age civilizations. These latter are significant because they display similarities with regard to the deposition of wealth with the deceased, the orientations of the bodies and funerary iconography. Furthermore, in order to obtain a fuller perspective on the subject, the study also includes evidence for funerary practices from relevant literary sources that are dated to or depict the Bronze Age, especially the Homeric epics, the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Hittite Funerary Ritual for the King . Taking into account the types and complexity of tombs, the nature and abundance of tomb gifts and funerary iconography, the evidence for a cult of the dead and the sophistication of funerary rituals in the Iliad , this study examines the Mycenaeans' belief regarding death and the afterlife.

Divisions:Concordia University > School of Graduate Studies
Item Type:Thesis (Masters)
Authors:Katsapis, Antonia
Pagination:v, 176, [10] leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.
Institution:Concordia University
Degree Name:M.A.
Program:School of Graduate Studies
Date:2006
Thesis Supervisor(s):Teffeteller, Annette
Identification Number:LE 3 C66S36M 2006 K38
ID Code:8955
Deposited By: Concordia University Library
Deposited On:18 Aug 2011 18:40
Last Modified:13 Jul 2020 20:05
Related URLs:
All items in Spectrum are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved. The use of items is governed by Spectrum's terms of access.

Repository Staff Only: item control page

Downloads per month over past year

Research related to the current document (at the CORE website)
- Research related to the current document (at the CORE website)
Back to top Back to top