Funeral and Burial Rituals
Byzantines commemorated their deceased through funerary and burial rituals that prepared the departed for the transition from the earthly life to the life hereafter. More

Death of Christ
Crucifixion, the most frequent subject in Byzantine art, was first depicted around the end of the 5th or the beginning of the 6th century. More

Death of the Virgin
Although a feast celebrating the Dormition (koimesis, or "falling asleep") of the Virgin was established in the 6th century (celebrated August 15th), its artistic depiction appeared only after Iconoclasm. More

Death of Clergy, Monks, and Laymen
Although traditions vary, basic funeral rituals can be observed in the depictions of death of holy men, clergy, monks, and laymen. More


This exhibition was prepared by Natalia Teteriatnikov, curator of Byzantine Photograph and Fieldwork Archives, with the assistance of Michelle Savant and Stephanie Thornton, in connection with the Dumbarton Oaks Symposium, "Views on Death and the Last Things (8th to 15th centuries)," held April 30-May 2, 1999.

This web edition of the exhibition was edited and designed by Olga Grushin, Clarence Foules, and Chris Dunham of the Publications Department.

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