Final answer:
The idea that the dead were happy and celebrating, leading to their desire for decorated tombs, is a reflection of the religious beliefs of ancient civilizations like the Egyptians and Etruscans. Tombs were lavishly adorned with the purpose of serving the deceased in the afterlife, affirming their status, and enabling interaction with the divine. This practice was particularly prominent in the tombs of wealthy and powerful individuals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the dead were happy and were constantly celebrating, and therefore wanted their tombs highly decorated, cannot be definitively labeled as true or false because it reflects a belief system rather than a fact.
Historical evidence suggests that people from various ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians and Etruscans, decorated tombs elaborately as part of their cultural and religious practices.
The ornate decorations and objects within tombs were meant to serve the deceased in the afterlife, reflect their status, and maintain connections with the divine.
For example, the Etruscans decorated their tombs with scenes of funerary banquets and daily life activities, demonstrating a belief in an afterlife that was vibrant and connected to the living.
Such decorations can be seen in tombs like the Tomb of the Reliefs, which contains images of cushions, drinking equipment, and armor, signifying the importance of the funeral banquet in their culture.
Additionally, the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs were constructed with massive structures and intricate carvings detailing the ruler's life, signifying the belief in the soul's journey to the afterlife.
The opulence of the tombs during the height of Egyptian and Etruscan civilizations was in part due to their wealth and the desire to demonstrate power. This can be observed in the elaborate structures like the pyramids and the inclusion of shabti figures, which were intended to serve the dead in the afterlife.
Despite the sumptuous decor, it is important to note that these tombs were not designed for the living to see, but for the use of the deceased in the next world.