Death-Ritual and Social Structure in Classical Antiquity [Paperback]

Shows how the excavated remains of burials are a major source of evidence for social historians of the ancient Graeco-Roman world.Burials permit a far wider range of inference and insight than the literary texts produced by and for a narrow social elite. The primary purpose of this text is to reveal how they may be used as unique informative sources of Greek and Roman social history.Burials permit a far wider range of inference and insight than the literary texts produced by and for a narrow social elite. The primary purpose of this text is to reveal how they may be used as unique informative sources of Greek and Roman social history.The chief purpose of this book is to show how burials may be used as a uniquely informative source for Greek and Roman social history. Burials permit a far wider range of inference and insight than the literary texts produced by and for a narrow social elite, and by studying them in depth Dr. Morris is able to offer new interpretations of social change in Graeco-Roman antiquity. The major interdisciplinary importance of the book lies in its attempt to break down barriers between archaeologists and historians of different societies and cultures.1. The anthropology of a dead world; 2. 'Mos Romanus': cremation and inhumation in the Roman empire; 3. 'Dem bones': skeletal remains; 4. Taking it with you: grave-goods and Athenian democracy; 5. Monuments to the dead: display and wealth in classical Greece; 6. Famous last words: the inscribed tombstone; 7. At the bottom of the graves: an example of analysis; 8. Conclusion; Bibliographical essay; Bibliography; Index. Morris represents a new wave of research in archaeology, and his book is welcome....It is engagingly written and unites a great deal of wide-ranging information. Choice Morris has written an excellent book about the interpretation of ancient burial remains and the use of such interpretations for social history. Religious Studies Review While aimed primarily at social historial&