Lecture | Ancient History Research Seminar
The Processes of Dying of the Greeks from the Hellenistic Period to the Early Empire
- Date
- Monday 12 May 2025
- Time
- Serie
- Ancient History Research Seminars 2024-2025
- Address
-
Johan Huizinga
Doelensteeg 16
2311 VL Leiden - Room
- Conference room (2.60)
In this edition of the seminar, Associate Professor Takashi Fuiji of Kyoto University will speak about: The Processes of Dying of the Greeks from 00the Hellenistic Period to the Early Empire.
Abstract
One remarkable feature of the Greek culture surrounding dying and death is the custom of producing long, often verse, funerary inscriptions that contain a great deal of information on the names of the deceased and the bereaved, their dates of birth and death, the processes of dying, the various causes of death, the emotions and reactions of the bereaved, and the death rituals. The aim of this paper is to investigate the various processes of dying as recorded in Greek funerary inscriptions, combined with literary sources where available, in order to shed light on the way in which the process of dying was embedded in the culture and society of the Greek-speaking world from the Hellenistic to the Imperial period. From amongst the many phases of the dying process, this paper will focus on the progress/ development of a fatal disease, an accident, murder and, last but not least, death in battle. The main question this paper will address is the impacts of the Roman wars and domination on the processes of dying of the Greeks in the transitional period from the Hellenistic period to the early Empire.
For whom?
All are welcome, including and especially BA, MA and RMA students of all programmes. This lecture is in English.