History

The Meaning of the Word Urn

What does the word Urn mean? The word urn carries a quiet dignity. It’s a simple word, yet steeped in centuries of history — from the clay vessels of ancient burials to the polished memorial urns we know today. But where does it come from, what does it mean, and how has its shape and […]

The Meaning of the Word Cremate

What does Cremate Mean? From its roots in classical antiquity to the modern-day crematorium, the word cremate carries a long, fiery history. In its simplest form, to cremate means to reduce a body to ashes through intense heat — but its meaning, and how we interpret it, has evolved considerably over the centuries. From Latin […]

cremation of julius caeser “An eagle soaring above Rome, symbolising Julius Caesar’s soul carried to the heavens after his cremation.”

Julius Caesar’s soul was carried to the heaven by an eagle

Julius Caesar’s Soul Carried to the Heavens by an Eagle When Julius Caesar, one of history’s most influential leaders, was assassinated on the Ides of March (15 March 44 BC), his death shook Rome to its core. His body was taken to The Forum for cremation, but the crowd that gathered was far larger than […]

What did the Romans mix in their wine?

Peruse the small print on nearly any wine bottle and it typically mentions “contains sulfites.” However, scientists examining a 2,000-year-old bottle discovered in Carmona, a village in southern Spain, might consider a more macabre label: “Contains the cremated remains of an ancient Roman.” To give context, the wine was unearthed in a tomb, reflecting a […]

why choose a Viking Funeral in a modern age

Why Choose a Viking Funeral in the Modern Age?

Why Choose a Viking Funeral in the Modern Age? In a world where tradition often intersects with modernity, the choice of a Viking funeral stands out as a powerful and evocative way to honour a loved one. Rooted in ancient customs and legendary sagas, Viking funerals offer a unique blend of historical reverence and profound […]

What Grave Goods do I need for my Viking Funeral?

Viking Funeral Grave Goods – What You Need & Why At Scattering Ashes we think Viking Longboat urn offers you the best chance to get to Valhalla, either buried in a Sutton Hoo style burial or set adrift and set aflame. If you choose the boat burial option then you probably already know that our […]

Funeral Rings – an Old British Tradition

Memorial Jewellery – A Tradition Reimagined Memorial jewellery might feel like a modern idea, but it actually has deep historical roots. The custom of wearing something to remember a loved one goes back centuries — right to medieval times, in fact. I came across a fascinating snippet in my beloved BBC History Magazine about mourning […]

The mystery of the ashes of the Indian nationalist Netaji

Unresolved questions and legends about the final resting place of Netaji’s ashes Subhas Chandra Bose, known more commonly as just Netaji is a famous figure in the Indian nationalist movement. During the second world war he pursued a number of routes to try and get the British out of Indian, first courting the Germans and […]

Philip II of Macedonia Cremated Remains Confirmed

Most of us have heard of Alexander the Great, well in case you weren’t aware his father was Philip II of Macedonia and scientists now believe they have discovered his cremated remains. The tomb that held them was found a while ago in 1977, but recent excavations revealed that there were were more burial chambers […]

The Rise and Fall of Cremation in the Ancient World

Ancient Greek & Roman Cremation Practices As far back as 1000BC the ancient Greeks had adopted cremation as measure to deal with their dead. It is likely that it was introduced for military reasons as a way of making sure that soldiers killed abroad could be returned home, the bodies were cremated and their ashes […]

Baldur the Viking God cremated on his Longboat

Baldur — The Viking God Cremated on a Longboat Baldur is an ancient Norse God, in fact the only Norse god I have found associated with being cremated in a viking longboat. Baldur was the son of Odin (king of the gods) and his wife Frigg (who gives her name to Friday). Anyway he was […]

Dr William Price the Father of Modern British Cremation?

Dr William Price – The Father of Modern British Cremation The physician, Welsh nationalist, and self-proclaimed Druid Dr William Price (1800–1893) could — and perhaps should — be considered the father of modern British cremation. Price was a remarkable man: brilliant, rebellious, and more than a little eccentric. On the eccentricity scale, he was well […]

Medieval fashion – ashes launched from a Trebuchet or Catapult

Want Your Ashes Thrown from a Medieval Catapult? (Trebuchet Tributes) Flung from a mighty medieval war engine, soaring skyward to a drumbeat… then woosh — ashes drifting like silver confetti. Not everyone’s cup of mead, granted. But for battle-reenactors, engineers, and history buffs, the trebuchet has undeniable drama. Before we charge the battlements, a reality […]

The False Tsar who had his ashes shot out of a cannon!

False Tsar’s Ashes Shot from a Cannon — The Strange End of a Pretender This is a great little story from northern Europe from the early 17th century, during the Polish–Muscovite War (1605–1618) The incident is set in the conflict or series of conflicts that involved the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth taking an opportunistic swipe at the Russians […]

The Origins of the Ashes Cricket Contest – a Protest for Cremation

As one of the world greatest sporting contest draws to a close and England retain the precious little trophy, spare a thought for where this tiddler came from and what was the symbolism. The story starts in 1882, at the Oval cricket ground in London, when England cricketers managed to clutch defeat from the jaws of […]

Stonehenge ancient cremation ashes burial site

Stonehenge: Ancient Cremation Ashes and Burial Site Origins The wonderful and enigmatic Stonehenge. One of the most famous prehistoric sites in the world. And guess what? It was a crematoria – It’s official. Well sort of, but it was certainly a post cremation grave for the ashes of VIPs, forensic archaeologists have been examining more […]

Archeologically: Can the Cremation Pyre Wood tell about the Social Status?

I found this interesting site dedicated to Bio archaeology and mortuary archaeology – now there is a niche specialism! Apparently you can learn a lot about the funeral from the bones once they have been burned. The colouring, completeness and the warping of the of the remains – can reveal fire temperature, how the body […]

Bronze Age cremation urn unearthed on Dartmoor

Ancient discovery sheds light on prehistoric burial and ash practices Archaeologists have uncovered a bronze aged cremation urn (known as a Cist) from a site on Whitehouse Hill in Dartmoor. The urn is a stone chest and what was unusual about this find was the contents could be distinguished. Apart from the cremated remains the […]

Origins of Cremation Rites and Ashes — The Iliad Story

Achilles, Patroclus and One of the Earliest Funeral Pyre Stories Origins of cremation ashes and rites: The Trojan war is coming to it’s final stages Achilles’ friend Patroclus is killed by by the hero Hector. Achilles is devastated he puts on new armour and re-enters the fight eventually killing Hector. For Achilles revenge is not […]

Origins of Scattering Cremated Ashes – Part II: The Jat Tribe

The origins of scattering cremated ashes are, unsurprisingly, claimed by more than one culture and belief system. In an earlier piece, I explored whether the roots of the practice in Western thinking might be traced back to Norse mythology. Since then, several people have been in touch to suggest other, much older origins — particularly from South […]

Scattering ashes tradition – Is it Norse?

The Origins of Ash Scattering in Western Culture Many cultures that practise cremation also scatter ashes. In modern Western society, however, cremation itself is relatively recent, and the act of scattering ashes — particularly in the UK — is newer still. That raises an interesting question: where does the Western tradition of ash scattering actually […]