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

Marriage and Funeral in Classical Athens Marriage 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 change—the 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 overlapping rites.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  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 ceremony a verbal contract is made called engye. This is basically an agreement upon marriage between the groom and father of the bride. The dowry is also 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.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As the engue marked 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 bride’s hair, removing the girdle she wore since puberty, and taking a ritual bath in water from a sacred spring.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  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. All of these rites are for purification and conciliation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The bride offers locks of her hair to the virgin deity Artemis in hopes that the god would ease her passage from virginity. The bride’s girdle is also taken off and consecrated to Artemis or Athena (Blundell 105). This pre-wedding ritual is one of the few events women are allowed to participate in.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The bride and groom both take a ritual bath which is believed to induce fertility (Avagianou 6). Sacred spring water for the bath is carried in a loutrophorus which means â€Å"someone who carries the bath water† (Rehm 15).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The bride is then assisted in adorning herself for the public ceremony which begins with a feast at the family’s home.