Greek Death Rituals

     The Greeks thought that when a person died the psyche, or spirit, left the body as a puff of wind.  The deceased was then readied for burial according to time-honored rituals.  Anceint sources made a point of metioning the necessity of a proper burial and that if a proper burial was not given it was an insult to human dignity.  Usually the women reatives of the deceased conducted the three parts of the ritual.  The prothesis, or that laying of the body, when the family and friends pay respects and mourn.  The body was washed and anoited with oil before the prothesis.  The ekphora, which is the funeral procession.  Then there is when the body is buried, few objects were put in the grave, but elaborate statues were placed to mark the graves.