Remnants of Ritual: A discussion of burial practices and material remains of Pompeian tombs

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Issue Date
2013-04-01Author
Geller, Jennifer
Publisher
University of Kansas
Type
Article
Article Version
Scholarly/refereed, publisher version
Published Version
http://ugresearch.ku.edu/student/share/jur#Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
As scholars, it is important to
remember our own folly and
the cultural biases we may be
inadvertently projecting upon our
scholarship. Nineteenth century
excavators were appalled by piles
of charred bones, terracotta and
architectural fragments that were
found near and in the tombs at
Pompeii. It appeared to these
excavators that Pompeians neglected
their tomb sites and allowed rubbish
and trash to pile up; they used this
as evidence for a theory that Pompeii
was experiencing a societal decline
previous to the tragic destruction in
the Vesuvius eruption of 79 AD. In my
paper, I explore the tombs as multifunctioning
centers of active ritual
and retreat. In my opinion, these
material remains are likely remnants
of these rituals and banquets, and
their existence should be expected
in such active and often frequented
venues. These piles of so-called
rubbish should not be taken as
evidence of a societal decline; rather
they exemplify the dynamic and
important role that tombs played in
daily life at Pompeii.
Description
This article was published in the Spring 2013 issue of the Journal of Undergraduate Research
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