E. H. Langlois

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. Image File history File links Seductive_death_EHLanglois. ... The afterlife (or life after death) is a generic term referring to a continuation of existence, typically spiritual and experiential, beyond this world, or after death. ...

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. Anubis is the Greek name for the ancient god in Egyptian mythology whose hieroglyphic is more accurately spelt Anpu (also Anup, Anupu, Wip, Ienpw, Inepu, Yinepu, or Inpw). ... Osiris (Greek language, also Usiris; the Egyptian language name is variously transliterated Asar, Aser, Ausar, or Ausare) is the Egyptian God of the dead and the underworld. ... Hades, Greek god of the underworld, enthroned, with his bird-headed staff, on a red-figure vase made in the 4th century B.C. Hades (From , Hadēs, or , Háidēs, Greek for unseen) refers to both the ancient Greek abode of the dead and the god of that... Death is the cessation of physical life in a living organism, or the state of the organism after that event. ... Saint Death, otherwise known as Santa Muerte or La Santísima Muerte, is an uncanonized Mexican saint who receives petitions for love, luck, and protection. ...

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. Map of Ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt was the civilization of the Nile Valley between about 3000 BC and the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. As a civilization based on irrigation it is the quintessential example of an hydraulic empire. ... A depiction of Ammit in a late period papyrus, showing mostly leonine traits. ...

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. // In the study of mythology and religion, the underworld is a generic term approximately equivalent to the lay term afterlife, referring to any place to which newly dead souls go. ... Hades, Greek god of the underworld, enthroned, with his bird-headed staff, on a red-figure vase made in the 4th century B.C. Hades (From , Hadēs, or , Háidēs, Greek for unseen) refers to both the ancient Greek abode of the dead and the god of that... In Greek mythology the Erinyes (the Romans called them the Furies) were female personifications of vengeance. ... In Greek mythology, the Keres (sing: ker) were daughters of Erebus and Nyx. ... A Statue of Persephone In Greek mythology, Persephone (Greek Περσεφόνη, Classical Greek Persephónē, Modern Greek Persefóni) was the queen of the Underworld, the Kore or young maiden, and the daughter of Demeter. ... For the Freudian concept of Thanatos, see: Death instinct To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

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. Halloween is an observance celebrated on the night of October 31, most notably by children dressing in costumes and going door-to-door collecting sweets or money. ...

Day of the Dead, November 1st. Celebration of the memory of dead relatives. Sugar skull given and eaten for the Day of the Dead The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos, Día de los Difuntos or, simply, Día de Muertos in Spanish) is a Catholic celebration of the memory of deceased ancestors that is celebrated on November 1...

All Souls Day, November 2nd. Souls of the faithful will be cleansed at this time, if they haven't been cleansed yet. All Souls Day by William Bouguereau All Souls Day (Commemoratio omnium fidelium defunctorum), also called Defuncts Day in Mexico and Belgium, is the day set apart in the Roman Catholic Church for the commemoration of the faithful departed. ...

Death Personified

Danse Macabre, Trinity Church 1490

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. Image File history File links Dm_slovene4. ... Death is the cessation of physical life in a living organism, or the state of the organism after that event. ... Death, personified is an anthropomorphic figure or a fictional character who has existed in mythology and popular culture since the earliest days of storytelling. ... From The Dance of Death by Hans Holbein La Danse Macabre, also called Dance of death, La Danza Macabra, or Totentanz, is a late-medieval allegory on the universality of death: no matter ones station in life, the dance of death united all. ...

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". Det sjunde inseglet (The Seventh Seal) is a 1957 film directed by Ingmar Bergman, most notable for the scene in which a medieval knight (played by Max von Sydow) plays chess with the personification of Death, with his life resting on the outcome of the game. ... Beetlejuice movie poster Beetlejuice is a film directed by Tim Burton, first released in the USA on March 30, 1988, and produced by The Geffen Film Company for Warner Bros. ... Monkeybone is a 2001 film based on Kaja Blackleys graphic novel Dark Town. The movie stars Brendan Fraser, Bridget Fonda, Whoopi Goldberg, Rose McGowan & Chris Kattan. ... Meet Joe Black is a 1998 remake of the 1934 film, Death Takes a Holiday, starring Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, and Claire Forlani. ... Final Destination is a 2000 horror movie. ... The Sixth Sense (1999) is a film written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan that tells the fictional story of a troubled, isolated boy (played by Haley Joel Osment) and a child psychologist (played by Bruce Willis) who tries to help him. ... The Frighteners is a 1996 film directed by Peter Jackson about a psychic private detective who stands in the way of a serial killing death-like creature. ... A (help· info) (German for rumbling ghost) is widely believed to be an invisible ghost that interacts with others by moving and influencing inanimate objects. ... Video cover showing Fredric March and Evelyn Venable. ... The Others has been the name of various films and TV series: In film: The Others, a 2001 film by Alejandro Amenábar, starring Nicole Kidman and Christopher Eccleston. ...

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. This article is about the paranormal. ... A séance (pronounced: ) is, on its most basic level, an attempt to communicate with the dead. ... Séance conducted by John Beattie, Bristol, England, 1872 Ghost culture is a long time tradition of having a fascination with death and the afterlife. ...

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. Harry Houdini (March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was born as Ehrich Weisz and was one of the most famous magicians, escapologists, and stunt performers of all time as well as an investigator of spiritualists. ...

Today there are a number of commenters who have spoken on the fascination people have with death. "[[if it bleeds it leads]" 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. This article is about the band Marilyn Manson. For its lead singer of the same name, see Marilyn Manson (person). ... Historically, a martyr is a person who dies for their convictions or religious faith, such as during the persecution of early Christians in the Roman Empire. ...

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

External links

• Ghost Convention International
• All Souls Day
• Day of the Dead (Dia de Los Muertos)
• History and Customs of Halloween