marriage and funeral in ancient greece :: essays research papers fc

Marriage and Funeral in Classical AthensMarriage in Classical Athens was inevitable. It was a part of life. Everyone had to get married, just as everyone had to someday face death. Although most people would not see a connection between marriage and death, the Greeks did. Both define an irreversible physical miscellaneathe loss of virginity and the loss of life. This idea of loss, rebirth, and renewal are present in both wedding and funeral. This is evident in the way wedding and funeral ceremonies complement each other in character and content. Both ceremonies are interwoven with ritual meaning and oerlapping rites.There are three distinctive parts to a Greek marriage the engue, ekdosis, and gamos (Powers). The engue refers to the betrothal arranged by the kurioi, which are the fathers of the bride and groom (Duby 273). In this ceremonial a verbal contract is made called engye. This is basically an sympathy upon marriage between the groom and father of the bride. The dowry is al so paid to the groom during this time. The agreement is sealed by the phrase I hand over this woman to you for the ploughing of legitimate children (Blundell 101). Witnesses were present as proof of engue in case the legitimacy of children was ever questioned. As the engue tag a pledge the ekdosis marked a transformation of the bride as she shifted from a child to an adult, a virgin to a wife. Actions that symbolized this transfer included cutting of the brides hair, removing the girdle she wore since puberty, and taking a ritual bath in water from a sacred spring. During the ekdosis the daughter is given away by the father to her husband. The bride and groom prepare for the wedding with offerings, dedications, and sacrifices. altogether of these rites are for purification and conciliation. The bride offers locks of her hair to the virgin deity Artemis in hopes that the god would ease her passage from virginity. The brides girdle is also taken off and ordain to Artemis or Athena (Blundell 105). This pre-wedding ritual is one of the few events women are allowed to participate in. The bride and groom both take a ritual bath which is believed to induce mellowness (Avagianou 6). Sacred spring water for the bath is carried in a loutrophorus which means someone who carries the bath water (Rehm 15). The bride is then assisted in adorning herself for the public ceremony which begins with a feast at the familys home.