Strange Grieving in 12th Century Egypt

Egyptian surgeon and oculist al-Malik al-Aziz reacted this way when he heard that his younger brother had died:

In the middle of the street he threw off all his clothes except his underwear, ran home, put ashes on his head and face ``from all the ovens of the house.`` Immediately, a whole entourage turned up to express their sympathy and persuaded the mourner to show more moderation in his grief. 

Quoted from A Mediterranean Society by S.D Goitein, volume 2.