BUSTUM, in the Campus Martius, was a structure whereon the emperor Augustus first, and, after him, the bodies of his successors were burnt. It was built of white stone, surrounded with an iron palisade, and planted within with alder trees.
BUSTUM was also figuratively applied to denote any tomb. Whence those phrases, facere bustum, visitare bustum, &c.
Bustum of an altar, was the hearth or place where the fire was kindled.