The sewing of the shroud was generally done by the sail-maker or his mates, and the last stitch was frequently placed through the nose of the deceased. This served two purposes: First, it was just another method of ensuring the dead did not return to life, similar to an old Norse practice of burying bodies with stakes through their breasts. Second, it was a way of ensuring the body was actually dead, as the pain would awaken a sailor who was merely unconscious rather than deceased.
No comments:
Post a Comment