Meeting the death in childhood
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Year of publication | 2017 |
Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
MU Faculty or unit | |
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Description | In ancient societies the mortality rate was at a far higher level than as we know it today. Childhood especially was a very dangerous phase of life and children were faced with death much more often - as potential victims as well as witnesses of death of others in their family or community. Death was a rather common occurrence, and not some distant abstract. The Romans considered childhood (among other things) as a tender age requiring forming and protection. Can we trace any forms of “protection from death” – ritual, physical or psychological? And more importantly – can we (using an interdisciplinary approach) learn more about these children as witnesses to death in Roman society and about the child’s experience of death and his/her agency when facing it? |
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