An anthropological study into the commonalities of death and funeral rituals in Irish and Greek cultures
Authors
Thorne, Glenda
Issue Date
2008
Degree
BA Anthropology
Publisher
Dublin Business School
Rights holder
Rights
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Abstract
The central pillar in this thesis will be examining the different rituals in each stage of the funeral rites individually and in doing so the traditional and cathartic reasoning behind funeral rituals will be exposed. This will be done with the anthropological guidance of funeral rituals from both societies. Irish and Greek funeral customs have been passed down from generation to generation. The ritual of the wake in both societies exists in both societies today. The instance of keening in Irish society existed up until the latter part of the twenty first century whereas lamenting still exists in rural Greek parts. The quintessential role that religion plays in the quest towards an afterlife and its concept of the soul is paramount in the research and findings of this thesis. Death is the concluding part in the drama of life and the supernatural mysteries that surround death will continue to haunt us all until the end of time.