Philinnion
Philinnion is the best-preserved walking-corpse story from classical antiquity. Recorded by Hadrian's freedman Phlegon, it tells of a dead bride who rises physically from her family vault to spend three nights with a house guest. When she is discovered she collapses as a corpse, and the city, on a seer's advice, burns the body beyond its borders and purifies itself. The empty tomb and the civic cremation show that Greeks imagined the returning dead as bodies, and dealt with them accordingly.1
- being seen by her parents, at which she dies a second time
- burning the body outside the city boundary
- sacrifices to Hermes Chthonios and the Eumenides and purification of the temples
Yaqala nini ukuvela?
150Phlegon of Tralles, Book of Marvels, 2nd century AD; the story is set in the reign of Philip II of Macedon
Okushiwo yimithombo
The account is framed as an official's letter asking whether the king should be told1
She gave her lover Machates a gold ring and left her breast-band behind1
Her tomb was opened and found empty except for an iron ring and a gilt cup that Machates had given her1
Her lover killed himself afterwards1
Goethe used the story for 'The Bride of Corinth' (1797)1
Ubungayidlula ngokugijima?
Isigaba sejubane esisuka ekuchazweni yimithombo (iyehluka), hhayi isilinganiso.
Imithombo
Wonke amaqiniso kuleli khasi avela kule mithombo, abhalwe ngamazwi ethu. Ubone iphutha? Sitshele ku-hello@zombiewiki.app.
Erichtho's reanimated soldier
Vrykolakas
The corpse of Thelyphron
Vrykolakas of Mykonos
Bouplagos
Polykritos
Ishtar's army of the dead
Lugnano child burial