Meeting death in childhood
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2018 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Graeco-Latina Brunensia |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | Digitální knihovna FF MU |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.5817/GLB2018-1-1 |
| Keywords | children; family; antiquity; Rome; mortality; death; sickness; agency |
| Description | In ancient societies, the mortality rate was at a far higher level than as we know it today. Childhood especially was a dangerous phase of life and children were faced with death much more often - as potential victims as well as witnesses of the 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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