When writing in any era, the end of a life can take on
various meanings, depending on the beliefs of the deceased individual. There
may be an exotic afterlife to consider or particular funerary rites to adhere
to. Tossing history into the mix brings with it layers of archaic ritual, older
cultural boundaries and long-extinct practices. Therefore, this can be a
complicated yet fascinating aspect of writing historical fiction.
 |
West Kennet Long Barrow
photo: E Moxon
|
In my ‘Wolf Spear Saga’ series I must consider many factors
in relation to the death of my characters. For my Germanic characters, they
descend from a warrior line. Kings and tribal leaders would have received the
ultimate in ornate burials with plenty of grave goods. If he is an experienced
horseman, he may even be buried with his ‘noble steed’. However, in times of
danger when there is little time to linger for fear of return attack, they
might resort to a funeral pyre. This may be inevitable after battle if they have
several dead warriors and limited time. Cremation was for centuries an
acceptable form of funerary rite, even when some turned to Christianity. Grave
goods have been found in Christian burials, despite not being a religion that
encourages the placing of sacred objects with the body or cremation urn.
 |
| photo: visualhunt.com |
Religious beliefs come and go, evolving and overlapping
throughout history. Forms of burial container exist in hundreds of designs that
have beauty or function to carry the dead into whatever future they perceived
lay before them. Some expected to be collected by fearless shield maidens who
would deliver them to the feasting hall of a one-eyed war-god, in order to
battle into eternity. Others would expect to meet other deceased relatives in a
summer meadow, able to lead a fruitful, playful existence with their array of
grave goods.
 |
Snettisham Great Torc
photo: visualhunt.com
|
Deaths of religious figures, such as priests and priestesses
also vary depending on cultural and religious differences. Evidence has been
found of herbs in Coptic jars and headdresses or pillows made from the leaves
of plants considered to have magical powers. Essences in bottles and flower
garlands worn as funerary adornments can hint at the importance of incense or
plant oils accompanying those who possessed the ability to see the future or
read the messages from scented fires. Embalming is a particular ritual that was
perfected by the Egyptians, though is not restricted to their ancestral history
alone.
 |
Stonehenge
photo: E Moxon
|
Finally, then there are the cultural rituals replete among warrior
tribes and the elite among ancient peoples. The Welsh and Irish sagas abound
with the ‘rites of passage of kings’, with several tales of fathers being
brutally murdered by sons. This has a multitude of connotations, from
disgruntled sons eager to remove fathers from thrones to the right of every
warrior to die a noble death. To die ungracefully in one’s own bed would be a
disgrace to many a brave king, but were a son to ‘send’ his father to a noble
death via the sword, then the king’s reputation and warrior-status would remain
intact. This act, a ‘rite of passage’ could send the king into his chosen
afterlife.
 |
Oseberg Ship Burial
photo: visalhunt.com
|
~ ~ ~
Do you consider the end of your characters' lives as much as their creation?
How much detail and thought do you employ when creating characters?
Has a character's death affected you when writing/reading it?
