The history of cremation is nothing short of fascinating. While people today consider cremation a new trend, it’s actually been around since the Stone Age (around 3000 B.C.) and was prevalent in Europe, Asia, and the Mediterranean.

Cremation became the preferred method of disposition in Greece around the time of Homer (1000 B.C.) and in the succeeding Roman Empire from 27 B.C. to 395 A.D. As the ancient world embraced the practice of cremation, potters crafted elaborate urns that are recognized today as treasured historical art pieces.

However, after the Roman Edict of Thessalonica in 380 A.D., Christianity reigned as the dominant religion of Greece and burial replaced cremation as the preferred method of final disposition. Burial remained popular in Europe for centuries until cremation came back into fashion in the 19th century, when an Italian professor by the name of Brunetti introduced modern cremation methods.

The popularity of cremation in the Old World has caught on in the New World. In America, crematories sprang up in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s and the cremation rate has steadily increased over time. The cremation rate in the U.S. is expected to encompass more than half of all deaths by 2018.

Greece’s Modern Cremation Revival

Meanwhile, Greece – where cremation was once widely popular – hasn’t caught up with the modern cremation trend. The Greek government only recently approved cremation in 2006, giving the green light for the construction of new cremation centers. However, local municipalities have been slow to launch crematory construction projects. Both the state government and local municipalities have faced criticism from the Greek Orthodox Church, which favors traditional burials over the practice of cremation.

Some areas in Greece, however, have begun to embrace cremation. The first crematorium in Greece is set to open in the central Greek city of Volos. With the construction of new cremation centers, the Greek government hopes to mitigate the problem of limited space that has hampered cemeteries in urban locations. By law, a crematory is able to perform cremation if the deceased has provided a written wish to be cremated, or if the spouse or immediately family of the deceased has requested cremation.

Time will tell if cremation becomes as popular in Greece as it was in the ancient world. As Greek cremation begins its revival in the 21st century, it seems that the history of cremation has come full circle.