It was hot. The hieroglyphics that resided on the wall were still intact as though they were carved and painted yesterday. I felt myself panting as I furthered my way down this tunnel. I entered a room, filled with huge images on all of the surrounding walls. All of the images were painted facing the direction of outwards, towards the light. Then right before my eyes rested the tombstone, in a room of its own. Hundreds and thousands of years later, still resting in exactly the same position that it was placed in. Although not every person from Ancient Egypt was given this amount of care after they died, it is unbelievable that so many were. For those that took on the position of being a Pharaoh, even after they were gone, their entire life was transferred into their pyramid, giving them the opportunity for eternal life.
It was cold and rainy, as I walked to the funeral home. The movies are accurate when it comes to the external image of death. A book sat on a stand for every person who payed their respects to sign. There was something so gloomy about the room, and then I saw her. Surrounded by flower after flower. Her casket was closed, an image of her from her twenties with my grandfather rested on top. I walked over slowly yet my heart was pounding. How could my grandmother be inside of that box? I waned to open it so badly; I didn’t believe that she was truly “resting” inside. I placed my hand on the mahogany and started to cry. One moment ago I was laughing and talking to her, and now she was still in the same room as I but neither of those actions were taking place.
Different cultures handle death differently, however I believe that no one ever wants to truly let someone go. Whether it’s in a pyramid where all of the person’s valuables still surround them, or if they are in the dirt below the grass of the ground. Of course people have to continue moving and continue going about their normal routines, however there are places that they can go to revisit these people who used to exist along side them. I don’t know if this is a good thing, or if it truly delays the process of grieving, and makes those who still breathe stuck in moment after moment, not having the ability to say goodbye. Something to consider though, is most of the rituals around death are prepared by the people who have died. As if to say that even though they may believe there really is something after this life, they don't want to let go of what they had, or whom they shared their life with. They don't want to be forgotten or become just a memory, and by creating this sense of eternal life it probably gives them courage that they will always remain apart of this world.
1. Why is religion practically always associated with death?
2. Why do wakes exist?
3. In the United States were most people always buried?
4. How do buddhists care for the dead?
5. When did cremation first start?
6. Why do people spend so much money on death?
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI agree with when you say no one truly wants to let someone go. I thought the way you wrote your blog was very different then the other people's blogs I have read in a very good way your descriptive writing makes me drawn to your work and makes me want to read your work. The question Why is religion practically always associated with death? is the same question I asked because whenever I hear people talking about death they say how they are going to do something traditional based on there religion.