Fascination with death
The fascination with death extends back as far as history tells. People have obsessions with death and all things related to death and the afterlife.
In past times, people would form cults around death gods and figures. Famously, Anubis, Osiris, Hades, and Death (Saint Death) have all had large cult followings. Saint Death, or the personification of death, is currently worshiped by many in Mexico and other countries in Central America. Day of the Dead, November 1st, is a celebration for the dead in Saint Death's honor.
The ancient Egyptians are most famous for their fascination of death by mummifying their dead and building exquisite tombs, like the pyramids of Giza, for their dead. Many of their deities were death-related, such as: Ammut, the devourer of unworthy souls; Anubis, the guardian of the Necropolis and the keeper of poisons, medicines, and herbs; Thoth, the great scribe and god of knowledge records the result of the judgement of mortal souls; Osiris, the king of the dead; Isis, protector of the dead; Hathor, a goddess of the dead.
While most cultures seem to have two separate places for people to go when they die, usually some version of heaven and hell, the Greeks did not. The Greeks had a place called the Underworld, which was a place where all dead people went. The Underworld, sometimes called Hades, was ruled by the god Hades (ruler of the dead), and had five rivers that flowed through it. The rivers were: Acheron,river of sadness; Cocytus, river of lamentation; Lethe, river of forgetfulness; Phlegethon, river of fire; Styx, river of hate. The Underworld had attendants who, though not rulers, were important gods and beings. The Furies were female spirits who exacted vengance against people who committed specific crimes. Keres were female spirits of death and destruction. Persephone was the goddess of the underworld and was married to Hades. Thanatos, the god of death, is said to wear dark robes.
Death-related Holidays
Halloween, October 31st. The dead are free to roam the Earth on this night. People dress up so the spirits will leave them alone.
Day of the Dead, November 1st. Celebration of the memory of dead relatives.
All Souls Day, November 2nd. Souls of the faithful will be cleansed at this time, if they haven't been cleansed yet.
Death Personified
In many pieces of literature and movies, Death has been personified. Death, or the Grim Reaper, is a constant figure in mythology and religion. Most popular was the personification in Medieval times during the plague years. The 'Danse Macabre', the popular art of the dancing skeletons and skeletons amidst a crowd of mortals, depicts this.
In most pieces of written literature, we find that Death is not evil, nor is he good. He is usually said to be somewhat witty, soft spoken, fair in judgement, and mild mannered.
People who claim to have seen Death often report feelings of initial fright, but usually its counter-balanced by awe. Most report their arm hairs standing on end and usually a cold or chilled feeling.
Encounters With Angel of Death
Death in Today's Culture
You can find the grim reaper, skulls, skeletons, and ghosts everywhere, whether it be candy or movies or video games or characters in books and comics. Some of our favorite movies touch on the fascination with death, such as: "The Seventh Seal", "Beetlejuice", "Monkeybone", "Meet Joe Black", "Final Destination", "The Sixth Sense", "The Frighteners", "Poltergeist", "Death Takes a Holiday", and "The Others".
A small group of people in today's society are avid studiers of death, the act and personification, and also the afterlife. They call themselves 'Ghosts'. Ghosts can usually be found reading up on ghosts, death, and the afterlife; conducting séances and other forms of spiritual communication; hunting for proof of afterlife existence. Ghost culture is fairly small.
In the early part of the 20th century, it was common to hold séances at dinner parties. Harry Houdini was known for going to these séances and proving that the medium, the person conducting the séance, was a fraud. A séance is the event where a group of people (3 or more) try to communicate with the dead through one person of the group, the medium.
Today there are a number of commenters who have spoken on the fascination people have with death. "if it bleeds it feeds" is a phrase related to this, meaning that, in the media the most popular material, as well as most of the material in general, is based on death. For example - death as a topic in the news. Marilyn Manson often talks and bases his music around the way people are fascinated with death, as well as fame (in relation). He comments on how people will use death to gain a certain immortality in the minds of others (fame). He has further commented that people are willing to die and kill if they know enough people are watching, to gain this immortality or fame. This extends into a social comment on martyrism, television, and the hypocrisy people show between their fascination and thus promotion of death, and their decryment of violence.
References
- "Death: A User's Guide" by Tom Hickman
- "Spook: Science Tackles The Afterlife" by Mary Roach
- "Letters from the Afterlife: A Guide to the Other Side" by Katherine Hart, Elsa Barker
- "Life After Death : A History of the Afterlife in Western Religion" by Alan F. Segal
- "The Ghost Next Door" by Mark Alan Morris
- "Ghosts, Spirits and Hauntings" by Patricia Telesco
- "The Beginner's Guide for the Recently Deceased" by David Straume