FUNERAL Rites, ceremonies accompanying the interment or burial of the dead. The word is formed of the Latin funus, and that of funalia, on account of the torches (Junes cera circumdati) used in the funerals of the Romans. Others, however, derive funus from the Greek φonς, death or slaughter.

The first people who seem to have paid any particular respect to their dead were the Egyptians, the posterity of Ham, the first cultivators of idolatrous worship and superstition after the deluge. They were also the first who asserted the immortality of the sou', its migration into all kinds of animals, and its return to the human body, which they supposed to be within the term of three thousand years. Hence the great care which they evinced in embalming their dead, and the vast expense they incurred in building proper repositories for them. In fact, they were more solicitous about graves for the dead than about houses for the living. This is strikingly displayed in those stupendous remains of architecture under ground which were appropriated to the reception of the dead, as well as those above ground, such as the pyramids, where some of the Egyptian kings were interred.

Amongst the Egyptians, when a person died, his parents and friends put on mourning habits, and abstained from all banquets and entertainments. This mourning lasted from forty to seventy days, during which period they embalmed the body. After this ceremony was completed, it was restored to the friends, who placed it in a kind of open chest, which was preserved either in their houses, or in the sepulchres of their ancestors. But before the dead were allowed to be deposited in the tomb, they underwent a solemn judgment, which extended even to their kings. Of this remarkable custom we have a particular account in the first book of Diodorus Siculus. “Those who prepare to bury a relative give notice of the day intended for the ceremony to the judges, and to all the friends of the deceased, informing them that the body will pass over the lake of that district to which the dead belonged; when, on the [7:10:258]judges assembling, to the number of more than forty, and ranging themselves in a semicircle on the further side of the lake, the vessel is set afloat, which those who superintend the funeral have prepared for this purpose. This vessel is managed by a pilot, called in the Egyptian language Charon; and hence they say, that Orpheus, travelling in o>d times into Egypt, and seeing this ceremony, formed his fable of the infernal regions, partly from what he saw, ana partly from invention. The vessel being launched on the lake, before the coffin which contains the body is put on board, the law permits all who are so inclined to produce an accusation against it. If any one steps forth and proves that the deceased has led an evil life, the judges pronounce sentence, and the body is precluded from burial; but if the accuser is convicted of injustice in his charge he falls himself under a considerable penalty. When no accuser appears, or when the accusation is proved to be an unfair one, the relations who are assembled change their expressions of sorrow into encomiums on the dead; yet do not, like the Greeks, speak in honour of his family, because they consider all Egyptians as equally well born; but they set forth the education and manners of his youth, his piety and justice in maturer life, his moderation, and every virtue by which he was distinguished; and they supplicate the infernal deities to receive him as an associate amongst the blessed. The multitude join their acclamations of applause in this celebration of the dead, whom they consider as going to pass an eternity amongst the just below.” Such is the description which Diodorus gives of this funeral judicature, to which even the kings of Egypt were subject. The same author asserts that many sovereigns had been thus judicially deprived of the honours of burial by the indignation of their people; and that the terrors of such a fate had the most salutary influence on the conduct of their kings.

The funeral rites amongst the Hebrews were solemn and magnificent. Upon the demise of any person, the relatives and friends of the deceased rent their clothes. This custom is still imitated, but with a due regard to economy, by the modern Jews, who only cut off a piece of their garment in token of affliction. It was usual to bend the dead person’s thumb into the hand, and fasten it in that posture with a string, because the thumb having then the figure of the name of God, they thought the evil spirit would not dare to approach it. When they came to the burying-place, they made a speech to the dead in the following terms: “thessed be God, who has formed thee, fed thee, maintained thee, and taken away thy life. O dead, he knows your numbers, and shall one day restore your life and so on. After this they delivered the eulogium, or funeral oration, upon the deceased; then said a prayer, called the “righteousness of judgment and finally, turning the face of tire dead body towards heaven, they called out, “Go in peace.”

Amongst the ancient Greeks it was usual sometimes, before the interment, to place a piece of money in the mouth of the deceased, as Charon’s fare for wafting the departed soul over the river Styx. This ceremony was considered as unnecessary in those countries which were supposed to be situated in the neighbourhood of the infernal regions, and to lead thither by a ready and direct road. The corpse was likewise furnished with a cake, composed of flour, honey, and other ingredients, which was designed to appease the fury of Cerberus, and to procure the ghost a safe and quiet entrance. Whilst the corpse continued in the house, a vessel of water was placed before the door, the design of which was, that those concerned about the body might purify themselves by washing; it being the opinion of the Greeks, as well as of the Jews, that pollution was contracted by touching a dead body.

The ceremonies by which they expressed their sorrow for the death of their friends were various; but it seems to have been a constant rule to recede as much as possible in ' habit and behaviour from their ordinary customs. For this reason they abstained from banquets and entertainments; they divested themselves of all ornaments; and they tore, cut off, or shaved their hair, which they cast into the funeral pile, to be consumed with the remains of their deceased friend. Sometimes they threw themselves on the ground and rolled in the dust, or covered their heads with ashes. They beat their breasts, and even tore their flesh with their nails, upon the loss of a person whom they much lamented. When people of rank, such as public magistrates or great generals, died, the whole city mourned their loss. All public meetings were intermitted; the schools, baths, shops, temples, and all places of concourse were shut up.

After interment followed the epulιe or feasts, at which the company used to appear crowned; and upon this occasion they spoke in praise of the dead, as far as they could go with truth, it being esteemed a notorious wickedness to disregard truth in their eulogiums. And not only at these feasts, but even before the company quitted the sepulchre, they were sometimes entertained with a panegyric upon the deceased.

The Grecian soldiers who died in battle had not only their tombs adorned with inscriptions showing their names, parentage, and exploits, but were also honoured with an oration in their praise. The custom amongst the Athenians in the interment of their soldiers was as follows: “They used to place the bodies of their dead in tents three days before the funeral, that all persons might have an opportunity of finding out their relatives, and paying their last respects to them. Upon the fourth day a coffin of cypress was sent from every tribe to convey the bones of their own relatives; after which went a covered hearse, in memory of those whose bodies could not be found. All these, accompanied by a concourse of people, were carried to the public burying-place, called Ceramicus, and there interred. One oration was spoken in commendation of them all, and their monuments were adorned with pillars, inscriptions, and other ornaments usual about the tombs of the most honourable persons. The oration was pronounced by the fathers of the deceased persons who had behaved themselves most valiantly. Thus, after the battle of Marathon, the fathers of Callimachus and Cynaegyrus were appointed to pronounce the funeral oration. And on the return of the day upon which the solemnity was first held, the same oration was annually repeated.”

Interring or laying the dead in the ground seems to have been the most ancient practice amongst the Greeks; though burning came afterwards to be generally had recourse to. It was customary to throw into the funeral pile those garments which the deceased had usually worn. The pile was lighted by one of his nearest relatives or friends, who made prayers and vows to the wind to assist the flames, that the body might quickly be reduced to ashes; and whilst the pile was burning, the friends of the deceased stood by it, called upon him, and poured out libations of wine.

The funeral rites amongst the ancient Romans were very numerous. The deceased was kept seven days, and every day washed with hot water, and sometimes with oil, that, in case he was only in a slumber, he might be thus awakened; and at intervals his friends collected and raised a shout with the same intent. This last act they called conclamatio. The third conclamation was on the seventh day; when, if no signs of life appeared, the defunct was dressed and embalmed by the pollinctores, placed in a bed near the door, with his face and heels towards the street; and the outside of the gate, if the deceased were of condition, was hung with cypress boughs. In the course of these seven days an altar was raised near his bed side, called accrra, on which his friends every day offered incense; and the libitinarii provided articles necessary for tire interment.
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On the seventh day a public crier was sent about the city, inviting the people to the solemnization of the funeral in these words: Exequias L. Tit. filii, quibus est commodum ire, jam tempus est. Olus (i. e. ille) ex a:dibus effertur. The company being assembled, the last conclamativn ended, and the bed was covered with purple. A trumpeter then marched forward, followed by old women called preeficae, singing songs in praise of the deceased. Lastly, the bed followed, borne by the next relations; and if the person were of quality and office, the waxen images of all his predecessors were carried before him on poles. The bed was followed by his children, kindred, and others, atrati, or in mourning. From this act of following the corpse, these funeral rites were called exequiae. The body being thus brought to the rostra, the next of kin laudabat defunctum pro rostris, made a funeral oration in his praise and that of his ancestors. This being completed, the body was carried to the pyra, or funeral pile, and there burnt, his friends first cutting off a finger, which was buried with a second solemnity. When the body was consumed, the ashes were gathered; and the priest, sprinkling the company thrice with clean water, the eldest of the praficae crying aloud, Ilicet, dismissed the people, who took their leave of the deceased in this form, Vale, vale, vale ; nos te ordine quo natura permiserit sequemur. The ashes, enclosed in an um, were laid in the sepulchre or tomb.

The ancient Christians testified their abhorrence of the Pagan custom of burning their dead, and always deposited the body entire in the ground; and it was usual to bestow the honour of embalming upon the martyrs at least, if not upon others. They prepared the body for burial by washing it with water, and dressing it in a funeral attire. The exportation or carrying forth of the body was performed by near relations, or persons of such dignity as the circumstances of the deceased required. Psalmody, or singing of psalms, was the great ceremony used in all funeral processions amongst the early Christians.

In the Roman Catholic church, the body of the deceased person is washed, and a crucifix is put in its hand. At its feet stands a vessel full of holy water, and a sprinkler is placed, that those who come in may sprinkle both themselves and the body. A priest also stands by the con>sc, and prays for the deceased till it is interred. In the funeral procession, the exorcist walks first, carrying the holy water, next the cross-bearer, afterwards the rest of the clergy, and lastly the officiating priest. They all sing the miserere, and some other psalms; and at the end of each psalm a requiem. We learn from AIet ’ β ritual that the faces of deceased laymen must be turned towards the altar when they are placed in the church, and those of the clergy towards the people. The corpse is placed in the church, surrounded with lighted tapers; after the office for the dead, mass is sai<l; then the officiating priest sprinkles the corpse thrice with holy water, and as often throws incense on it. The body being laid in the grave, the clergyman sprinkles it with holy water.

The funeral ceremonies of the Greek church are much the same with those of the Latin. It needs only to be observed, that, after the funeral service, they kiss the crucifix, and salute the mouth and forehead of the deceased; after which each of the company eats a bit of bread and drinks a glass of wine in the church, wishing the soul a good repose, and the afflicted family all consolation.

Funeral Games, a part of the ceremonial of funerals amongst the ancients.

It was customary for persons of quality amongst the ancient Greeks and Romans to institute games with all sorts of exercises, to render the death of their friends more remarkable. This practice was generally received, and is frequently mentioned by ancient writers. Patroclus’s funeral games occupy the greater part of one book of the

H⅛d; and Agamemnon’s ghost is introduced by Homer, telling the ghost of Achilles, that he had been a spectator at a great number of such solemnities.

The celebration of these games amongst the Greeks mostly consisted of horse-races; the prizes were of different sorts and value, according to the quality and magnificence of the person who celebrated them. The garlands given to victors on this occasion usually consisted of parsley, which was thought to have some relation to the dead.

These games, amongst the Romans, consisted chiefly of processions, and sometimes of mortal combats of gladiators around the funeral pile. They, as well as the Greeks, had also a custom, though very ancient, of cutting the throats of a number of captives before the pile, as victims to appease the manes of the deceased. Caesar relates that the Gauls also observed this sanguinary custom.

The funeral games were at length abolished by the Emperor Claudius.

Funeral Oration, a discourse pronounced in praise of a person deceased, at the ceremony of his funeral.

This custom is very ancient. In the latter part of the account given of the Egyptian ceremonies of interment may be perceived the first rudiments of funeral orations, which were afterwards moulded into a more polite and regular form by other nations who adopted this custom. Nor can we omit remarking, that those funeral solemnities were attended not only with orations in praise of the deceased, but with prayers for him; which prayers, it seems, were made by one who personated the deceased.

The Grecians received the seeds of superstitious and idolatrous worship from the Egyptians, through Cecrops, Cadmus, Danaus, and Erechtheus; and amongst other customs transplanted from Egypt into Greece, were the solemnities used at the burial of the dead. Of these an encomium on the deceased always formed part, as particularly noticed under the preceding article.

From the Egyptians and Grecians, especially from the latter, the Romans received many of their lawsand customs, as well as much of their polytheism and idolatrous worship. It is well known that the custom of pronouncing funeral orations in praise of the dead obtained amongst them; and the manner in which their funeral services were performed has been already described. The corpse being brought into their great oratory, called the rostra, the nearest relation laudabat dejunctum pro rostris, that is, made a funeral oration, in commendation principally of the party deceased, but touching the worthy acts also of those his predecessors whose images were there present. The account given by Dr Kennet is in these words: “In all the funerals of note, especially in the public or indictive, the corpse was first brought with a vast train of followers into the forum; here one of the nearest relations ascended the rostra, and favoured the audience with an oration in praise of the deceased. If none of the kindred undertook the office, it was discharged by some of the most eminent persons in the city for learning and eloquence, as Appian reports of the funeral of Sylla. And Pliny the younger reckons it as the last addition to the happiness of a very great man, that be had the honour to be praised at his funeral by the eloquent Tacitus, then consul; and this is agreeable to Quintilian’s account of this matter. “For the funeral orations,” says he, “depend very often on some public office, and, by order of the senate, are many times given in charge to the magistrates, to be performed by themselves in person. The invention of this custom is generally attributed to Valerius Poplicola, soon after the expulsion of the regal family. Plutarch tells us, that honouring his colleague’s obsequies with a funeral oration, it so pleased the Romans that it became customary for the best men to celebrate the funerals of great persons with speeches in their commendations.” Thu*
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Julius Caesar, according to custom, delivered an oration in the rostra in praise of his wife Cornelia, and his aunt Julia, when dead; showing that his aunt’s descent, by her mother’s side, was from kings, and by her father’s from the gods. Plutarch says that “he approved of the law of the Komans, which ordered suitable praises to be given to women as well as to men after death.” But from what he says in another place it appears that the old Korean law provided that funeral orations should be made only for the elder women; and therefore he says that Caesar was the first who made one upon his own wife, it not being then usual to take notice of younger women in that way; but by that action he gained much favour from the populace, who afterwards looked upon him, and loved him, as a very mild and good man. The reason why such a law was made in favour of the women, Livy tells us, was this, that when there was such a scarcity of money in the public treasury, that the sum agreed upon to give the Gauls to break up the siege of the city and capitol could not be raised, the women collected amongst themselves and made it up; for which cause they had not only thanks given them, but this additional honour, that after death they should be solemnly praised as well as the men; which looks as if, before this time, the men only had those funeral orations made for them.

Tlι is custom of the Romans very early obtained amongst the Christians. Some of their funeral sermons or orations are now extant, as that of Eusebius on Constantine; and those of Nazianzen on Basil and Caesarius, and of Ambrose on Valentinian, Theodosius, and others. Gregory, the brother of Basil, made inxr∣it∣or λβyor, a funeral ora tion on Melitus, bishop of Antioch. These orations were usually pronounced before the bodies of the deceased were committed to the ground, which custom has been more or less continued ever since.

Thus it appears that those rites and ceremonies amongst the heathens, which have been delivered from one people to another, are what have given birth to Funeral Sermons and Oration» among Christians. The method in which the characters of deceased persons are given in our funeral sermons is very much the same with that observed in those pagan orations, where first an account is given of the parentage of the deceased, then of his education; after which we hear of his conduct in riper years; then his many virtues are enumerated, as also his generous, noble, and excellent performances.