Funeral Service Practice Exam

What were typically included as grave goods in many ancient cultures?

1. Books and scrolls

2. Food and drink

3. Cash and property deeds

4. Art and manuscripts

The correct answer is: Food and drink

In many ancient cultures, grave goods referred to items that were buried alongside the deceased, believed to be needed in the afterlife or as a reflection of the deceased's status and lifestyle. Food and drink were commonly included because it was thought that the deceased would need sustenance in the afterlife. For example, in ancient Egypt, offerings of bread, beer, and sometimes meat were placed in tombs to nourish the deceased. Similarly, in Norse customs, warriors were often accompanied by provisions for their journey to the afterlife, symbolizing the belief in continued existence beyond death. While items like art and manuscripts, cash, and property deeds might be valuable in some cultures, they were not as universally recognized or widely used as grave goods meant to ensure the deceased's well-being or status in the afterlife. Books and scrolls, for instance, were more commonly associated with knowledge or education, rather than with practical needs in the afterlife.