Philosophical Implications of the Afterlife in Greek and Roman Literature

The ways that the afterlife is depicted ties back to philosophical ideas about morality and death. These ideas also varied depending on the time, author, and cultural context. This paper looks at the intersection between literature and philosophy when concerning the afterlife, specifically focusing on a range of Greek and Roman texts. It was found that in these examples the afterlife mainly existed for those who had passed or were visiting those who had passed. The philosophical aspect comes into play when considering the role of the soul in the afterlife. There were also some examples of authors coping with loss through literature. Allowing for connections to be drawn between where they believe the soul goes after death and the philosophy of the author.