Ancient Greek burial customs

[Byzantine Prince]

I just remmebered for some random reason something from the (goadawful) movie Troy. It was remarked many times that they put two coins on men's eyes when the died. Me and my dad were very suprised by this because we always thought that you are supposed to put ONE coin in the person's mouth so he can pay the ferryman. I was very convinced that the movie was wrong, but now I'm totally lost as to what the truth is. Does anyone here know?

Oh and feel free to post any other ancient greek burial customs if you want...

[mercian billman]

I'm no expert on ancient burial customs, but I do remember that it was important that bodies be buried properly and that battles were often postponed to ensure that a proper burial(s) could occur.

[mercian billman]

About Troy, I never watched the movie, but the Iliad never mentioned placing a coin in anybodies mouth. IIRC Patroclus and Achilles were cremated and their ashes were mixed together, I also seem to remember that somebody else's ashes were mixed with their's but can't remember who.

[Byzantine Prince]

Which is why that movie sucked so bad. It couldn't be less faithful to either the book or cultural acuracy. But i know for a fact that most greeks used coins somehow when they burried their dead to pay for the ferryman. Sort of like fee to get to hell(the only place you could ironically).

[Cataphract_Of_The_City]

They placed one "obolos" (1/6th of a drachme i think) in the dead person's mouth.

[Byzantine Prince]

They placed one "obolos" (1/6th of a drachme i think) in the dead person's mouth.

Thank you!

What a dumb movie.

[Idomeneas]

Thank you!

What a dumb movie.

Τώρα το κατάλαβες?

Yes they put an obolos in mouth for Charon to pass them the river Styx.
Basically in bronze age they burried the bodies and erected great tombs like the ones in Mycenes or Pylos. Homer is makin an anachronism giving to Achaians/ Danaans customs of his time

[Byzantine Prince]

Οχι, το ηχερα, ομως δεν υμουνα συγουρος για τον οβολο που λεγανε οτι το βαλανε στο στομα.

Καταλαβαινο τι λες για τον αναχρονισμο. Οπως το καταλαβαινο την εποχη του Αχιλλεα τους καυλοναν(σπ.).

[GoreBag]

There were other cultures that placed money on the eyes, I believe, though. It was present in The Boondock Saints, although that's obviously fiction, people just don't make up practices like that.

[Idomeneas]

Οχι, το ηχερα, ομως δεν υμουνα συγουρος για τον οβολο που λεγανε οτι το βαλανε στο στομα.

Καταλαβαινο τι λες για τον αναχρονισμο. Οπως το καταλαβαινο την εποχη του Αχιλλεα τους καυλοναν(σπ.).

εννοείς τους έκαιγαν? Γιατι αν τους καύλωναν θα ήταν πολύ χαρούμενοι check a geek dictionary wich includes bad words about ''καυλώνω'' .

Τhey actually buring them then thats how we found mumies and skeletons of Myceneans kings.

[Byzantine Prince]

εννοείς τους έκαιγαν? Γιατι αν τους καύλωναν θα ήταν πολύ χαρούμενοι check a geek dictionary wich includes bad words about ''καυλώνω'' .

ROFL! I've been watching too much greek porn in my time here Canada. Mixed up some of my words as you can well understand.

Τhey actually buring them then thats how we found mumies and skeletons of Myceneans kings.

Mummies?!?! That's odd, I knew we took the archtecture and gods form the Egyptians, but never their burial customs. Definetly interesting.

[Idomeneas]

ROFL! I've been watching too much greek porn in my time here Canada. Mixed up some of my words as you can well understand.


Mummies?!?! That's odd, I knew we took the archtecture and gods form the Egyptians, but never their burial customs. Definetly interesting.

In the alleged grave of Agamemnon along with the famous golden mask the body was found in mummified condition. A oil painting was made i think by a french painter but the body is now lost. What happened why cant know. Some say its in the basements of athens museum and for some reason its kept secret, some say it degrated due to atmosfaire contact. I wouldnt be suprised if some rich european has it in his personal collection along with other stuff that was ''borrowed''. Pick your theory

And no we didnt took pantheon and architecture from egyptians. In fact there are smaller older pyramids than egypt in greece. They certainly were close but dont know who helped who. Im trying not to believe what i consider crazy theories but i also keep my ears open cause as you know from child and crazy man you are told the truth.