The History of Cremation
Scholars believe that cremation began in the early Stone Age, around 3,000 BC. Cremation is estimated to have begun in mainland Europe and the Near East, eventually spreading all the way to Russia. In the next few centuries, what is now Spain, Portugal, Italy and Hungary jumped on the cremation bandwagon.
The Greeks eventually got on board as well, so that by 1,000 BC (the Mycenaean Age) cremation was the number one way to handle the dead, especially once wars gave an excellent reason not to bother with burials. Cremation was a safer, cleaner, and quicker alternative. The Romans eventually took notice of what the Greeks were doing and copied them (coining the oft-misquoted adage: “When in Rome, do as the Greeks do”). The Romans really took this idea and ran with it, and by the middle of the fifth century BC laws had to be passed to keep people from performing cremation ceremonies within the city gates.
In the mid 5th century BC, cremation was extremely popular, yet by 400 AD, it had been virtually eradicated from the global consciousness. What caused this extreme shift? I will answer your question with another question. What is the difference between BC and AD?
That's correct, gumshoes. It was Christianity that ended the widespread popularity of cremation, just like it ended the popularity of pagan orgy parties and sacrificing calves to Zeus. Except for a few moments of weakness, when cremation became utilized out of necessity (during the Plague, for example) cremation was looked down upon and largely erased from quotidian use.
From 400-1900 AD, burial remained the number one most popular method of handling the deceased, thanks to Christian and Jewish burial traditions (they can't agree on a Messiah, but they see eye-to-eye on how to handle funerals?)
Modern cremation began again fairly recently, at the behest of an Italian professor by the name of
Brunetti, who unveiled a cremation chamber at the 1873 Vienna Exposition. I bet people were dying to see that!
After Professor Brunetti's invention, cremation began again in full swing. Having got the go-ahead from one eccentric Italian professor, 1,500 years of Judeo-Christian teaching was promptly thrown out the window. Ashes were in again!
Crematories began to pop up all over America and Europe. Today, over a quarter of all deaths in the United States end in cremation. Which has led, naturally, to an increased need for urns.
The word urn does not always refer to memorial urns filled with ashes of loved ones. Sometimes it refers to memorial urns filled with ashes of enemies. Or, if you're just talking about pottery in general, an urn is just another word for a vase or otherwise waterproof container. In western culture, urns are most commonly thought of as “memorial” urns, where ashes are housed. It is important to remember, however, that the arching overall definition of the word “urn” extends far beyond this singular use.