ment of the senate. This custom is said to have been first introduced by Poplicola, in honor of his colleague Brutus. It was an incentive to glory and virtue, but hurtful to the authenticity of historical records. The honor of a funeral oration was decreed by the senate also to women, for their readiness in resigning their golden ornaments to make up the sum agreed to be paid to the Gauls as a ransom for leaving the city; or, according to Plutarch, to make the golden cup which was sent to Delphi as a present to Apollo in consequence of the vow of Camillus after the taking of Veii. The places for burial were either private or public; the private in fields or gardens, usually near the highway, to be conspicuous, and to remind those who passed by of mortality. The public places of burial for great men were commonly in the Campus Martius or Campus Esquilinus; for poor people, without the Esquiline gate, in places called Puticulæ.

When a person was cremated and buried in the same place, it was called Bustum. A place where one only was burnt, Ustrina. The funeral pile was built in the form of an altar, with four equal sides, of wood which might easily catch fire, as fir, pine, cleft oak, unpolished, according to the law of the twelve tables, but not always so; also stuffed with paper and pitch, and made higher or lower, according to the rank of the deceased, with cypress trees set around, to prevent the noisome smell, and at the distance of sixty feet from any house. On the funeral pile was placed the corpse with the couch. The eyes of the deceased were opened. The nearest . relations kissed the body with tears, and then set fire to the pile with a lighted torch, turning away their face, to show that they did it with reluctance. They prayed for a wind to assist the flames, and when that happened it was thought fortunate. They threw into the fire various perfumes, incense, myrrh, cassia, etc., which Cicero calls Sumptuosarespersio, forbidden by the twelve tables; also cups of oil, and dishes, with titles marking what they contained; likewise the clothes and ornaments, not only of the deceased, but their own. Everything, in short, that was supposed to be agreeable to the deceased while alive. If the deceased had

ANCIENT ROMAN FUNERALS.

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been a soldier, they threw on the pile his arms, rewards, and spoils; and if a general, the soldiers sometimes threw in their own arms.

The Romans commonly built tombs for themselves during their lifetime. Thus, the mausoleum of Augustus, in the Campus Martius, between the via Flamina and the bank of the Tiber, with wood and walks around. If they did not live to finish them, it was done by their heirs, who were often ordered by the testament to build a tomb, and sometimes did it at their own expense. Pliny complains bitterly of the neglect of friends in this respect. The Romans erected tombs, either for themselves alone, with their wives, or for themselves, their family, and posterity; likewise for their friends, who were buried elsewhere, or whose bodies could not be found. The tombs of the rich were commonly built of marble, the ground enclosed with a wall, or an iron rail, and planted around with trees, as among the Greeks.

CHAPTER II.

THE PAGAN NATIONS.

The Ancient Egyptians-Funeral Ceremonies-The Carthaginians and Tyrians-The Assyrians-The Babylonians-The Medes and Persians—The Scythians The Scandinavians-The Celts and Druids.

A

THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS.

CCORDING to the most authentic ancient records in

Egypt, the priests held the next rank to kings, and from among them were chosen the great officers of state. They enjoyed many privileges, and, among others, that of having their lands exempted from the payment of taxes; of which we have a remarkable instance in Genesis, chap. lxvii., verse 26, where we read that "Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt that Pharaoh should have the fifth part, except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh's." As they had the sole management of the religious rites and ceremonies, so they were at the head of all the public seminaries of learning; and to their care was committed the education of the youth, especially such as were designed for high employments. That the progress of idolatry was very rapid after the Deluge cannot be doubted; and yet the Egyptians pretend that they were the first who instituted festivals, sacrifices, and processions, in honor of the gods. These festivals were held in the most celebrated cities, where all the inhabitants of the kingdom were obliged to attend, unless prevented by sickness; and when that happened, they were to illuminate their windows with torches. They sacrificed many