Dancing On The Grave: Encounters with Death - Softcover

Barley, Dr Nigel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0349107769 ISBN 13: 9780349107769

Publisher: Abacus, 1997

Synopsis

Seeking to merge the information of theologians and anthropologists, this book looks at the variety of ways in which cultures around the world deal with death and give it meaning. In some cultures, most famously Ancient Egypt, families would virtually financially ruin themselves in order to deal with the death of just one person. Other cultures such as the nomadic peoples of southern Africa, simply pull down the roof of their dwelling onto the body and move on, while the wrapped bodies in Torajan (Indonesian) houses are used as shelves. The reader is guided through such diverse areas as myths about death, belief about ways to mourn, joking at funerals, post-mortem videos, cannibalism, headhunting and royal mortuary ritual.

About this title

About the Author:

Nigel Barley is the author of six books, including THE INNOCENT ANTHROPOLOGIST and DANCING ON THE GRAVE. He is the curator of London's Museum of Mankind.

About this edition

• Publisher: Abacus
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0349107769
• ISBN 13: 9780349107769
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240