Death traditions from around the world.

The ancient Greeks thought they were more likely you have to pay their way into the next world, so left this life with a coin in their mouth to pay Chivon the ferryman who would row them across the river in the direction  that they were heading.  As a bribe the Ancient Greeks placed honey cake or bread in the coffin as a bribe to the 3 headed dog Deamon.  They also placed pearls, jade and gold leaf in the coffin this was to bribe the officials in heaven or hell to buy a better class of re-birth on earth.