You've probably heard of moirologists, also known as professional mourners or whalers.

These were people who were paid to attend funerals and cry loudly

to make sure that the mood was somber enough.

But did you know that at one point in history, there were also funerary clowns?

They were called Archimimes, and they were an essential part of ancient Greek funerals.

And with the help of costumes and a custom wax

mask, they would dress up to look like the person in the casket. Then the clown would proceed

to romp through the funeral ceremony while impersonating the deceased, even making jokes at the

expense of the person about to be buried. It was basically a graveside comedy roast.

It sounds pretty rude, right?

Why would mourners want a gesture to mock their dead loved one?

Well, some folklorists think that Archimimes weren't trying to make the living laugh at all.

No, their intended audience was the dead.

You see, the Greeks may have believed that some light-hearted

revelry would put the deceased spirits in a good mood, allowing them to enjoy their own funeral

rather than feeling frightened and sorrowful. So, yeah, step aside court jesters the new coolest

job just dropped. Ghost Jester. There have been all sorts of strange, spooky jobs throughout history,

from Archimimes to medieval leech collectors and resurrection men. Heck, my own job probably belongs

on that list, too. After all, for over a decade now, if you can believe it, I've had the privilege

of telling stories about medicinal cannibalism and cursed shipwrecks for a living.

Since humanity began, the supernatural has found its way into the workforce in some unexpected

ways.

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