Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online

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Dead, Cult of the
(6,339 words)

The overarching term “cult of the dead” can mean different things, including reverence for ancestors or their deification, but also ritual activities centered around remembering and celebrating deceased family members. Traditionally in the Roman Empire, families commemorating their deceased loved ones would visit the tomb during annual festivals such as the Parentalia, Lemuria, and Rosalia, as well as on the 9th and 13th day after burial and annua…

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Denzey Lewis, Nicola, “Dead, Cult of the”, in: Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online, General Editor David G. Hunter, Paul J.J. van Geest, Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte. Consulted online on 01 October 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2589-7993_EECO_SIM_00000872>
First published online: 2018



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