The Greek Way of Death

by Robert Garland

Surveying funerary rites and attitudes toward death from the time of Homer to the fourth century B.C., Robert Garland seeks to show what the ordinary Greek felt about death and the dead. The Second Edition features a substantial new prefatory essay in which Garland addresses recent questions and debates about death and the early Greeks. The book also includes an updated Supplementary Bibliography. Praise for the first "This [volume] contains a rich and remarkably complete collection of the abundant but scattered literary, artistic, and archaeological evidence on death in the ancient world as well as an extensive bibliography on the subject. Robert Garland conceives of death as a process, a rite of passage, a mutual but changing relationship between the deceased and [his or her] survivors.... A most useful collection of evidence, sensibly organized (no small feat) and lucidly presented.... A valuable source on the Greeks and on the always-lively subject of death."— American Historical Review "Much can be learned from this engaging survey of popular attitudes toward death, the dying, and the dead in Greece down to the end of the Classical period.... Appealing to scholars and the general audience."— Religious Studies Review

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Literary Criticism, School

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Dr. Robert S.J. Garland is the Roy D. and Margaret B. Wooster Professor of the Classics at Colgate University. He earned his B.A. in Classics from Manchester University, his M.A. in Classics from McMaster University, and his Ph.D. in Ancient History from University College London.

A former Fulbright Scholar and recipient of the George Grote Ancient History Prize, Professor Garland has educated students and audiences at a variety of levels. In addition to teaching classics at Colgate University, he has taught English and Drama to secondary school students and lectured at universities throughout Britain as well as the British School of Archaeology in Athens.

Professor Garland is the author of numerous articles in both academic and popular journals and books capturing details of all aspects of ancient Greek and Roman life, including The Greek Way of Life: From Conception to Old Age; Introducing New Gods: The Politics of Athenian Religion; and Daily Life of the Ancient Greeks. His expertise has been featured in The History Channel's "Last Stand of the 300," and he has repeatedly served as a consultant for educational film companies.

Reviews

[Stephen Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview of Greek attitudes and practices around death. It's absolutely an academic text, but it's not inaccessible and the writing is fairly lively for a scholarly text. It's not a manga or novel, so adjust expectations accordingly, and I think it could have actually been a fair bit longer and still been engaging - there were a lot of things the author covered at "beginner level" that could have supported deeper discussions.

[Walter Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good scholarly text on ancient Greek funerary rites.

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
REALLY good

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I read this as research for a project, it's obviously not the most riveting material of all time, but I learned a lot

[Shannon Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find this topic very interesting and would love to have a series of books covering different cultures. This slim volume can be read in a single sitting. I've got the first edition, and this was a re-read. I'm curious, of course, what new scholarship has shown, since this book is 40 years old. I cringed every time Garland used some variation of "doubtlessly" along with speculation.

[em!! · Rating 4 out of 5]

i want to eat a melitoutta :-(

[Maeve · Rating 5 out of 5]

The OG that everyone and their mother references if they talk about this topic after this books release. Easy to follow would recommend if you think this topic is interesting

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the original edition of this book, so I cannot speak to the later re-issue..

Very well written discussion of funeral practices, how death was viewed in the Geometric and Archaic ages (as well as can be inferred from pottery and the scant writing) and primarily focusing on practices in and around Attica, mainly Athens.

Does belief about the afterlife become more refined, codefied and singular as a society develops? Or does it fragment? Is death fearful? Is the afterlife dreadful? What drives the obligation of the living to the dead? Reciprocity? Sentiment? Religion? Societal cohesion?

A great, short book.

[hh · Rating 3 out of 5]

for my death and the afterlife in the ancient world class.

this book is readable, which says a lot. academic without being stuffy, it uses greek terms and history but doesn't presuppose a level of sophisticated reader knowledge and provides loads of useful background material in the appendices. a good general overview and starting place for someone who is interested in greek funerary practices but isn't an expert.

[Fracro · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was so dry I had to read it in the shower.