Valerie Hope - Death in Ancient Rome [2007] [A]

Presenting a wide range of relevant, translated texts on death, burial and commemoration in the Roman world, this book is organized thematically and supported by discussion of recent scholarship. The breadth of material included ensures that this sourcebook will shed light on the way death was thought about and dealt with in Roman society.

About the Author
Valerie M Hope is Lecturer in the Department of Classical Studies at the Open University. Her main research interest is Roman social history, focusing on Roman funerary customs and funerary monuments. Her previous publications include Constructing Identity: The Roman Funerary Monuments of Aquileia, Mainz and Nimes (2001) and Death and disease in the Ancient City (2000).

Most Helpful Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Overview and Excellent Sourcebook January 10, 2012
By bonnie_blu
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
"Death in Ancient Rome" is an excellent overview of the attitudes and beliefs about death, survival of the soul, and the afterlife of the inhabitants of the Roman Empire, which stretched from modern-day Scotland around the Mediterranean to Turkey. Valerie Hope makes it clear that different cultures varied in their beliefs and practices; however, there were common themes. In the final analysis, ancient people had the same spectrum of beliefs as modern humans: the gods did/didn't exist, the soul did/didn't exist, and there was/wasn't reward/punishment after death. However, one main difference between modern society and the ancients was that death was very much a part of everyday life in Ancient Rome. The sick did not go to a hospital but were treated in the home, there was high infant mortality, and a much higher mortality rate among teens onward than in modern society. The ancients were constantly surrounded by and reminded of the fragility of life.