ites, ceremonies accompanying the interment or burial of any person.
These rites differed among the ancients according to the different genius and religion of each country. The Egyptians, among the rest of their funeral rites, embalmed their dead.
Among the ancient Greeks it was usual sometimes, before the interment, to put a piece of money into the mouth of the deceased, which was thought to be Charon's fare for wafting the departed soul over the infernal river. This ceremony was not used 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, &c., which was designed to appease the fury of Cerberus, the door-keeper of hell, and to procure the ghost a safe and quiet entrance.
During the time the corpse continued in the house, there stood before the door a vessel of water, 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; they tore, cut off, or shaved their hair, which they cast into the funeral pile, to be consumed with the body of their deceased friend. Sometimes they threw themselves on the ground, and rolled in the dust, or covered their head with ashes; they beat their breasts, and even tore their flesh with their nails, upon the loss of a person they much lamented. When persons of rank, such as public magistrates, or great generals, died, the whole city put on a face of mourning; all public meetings were interrupted; the schools, baths, shops, temples, and all places of concourse were shut up.
Interring or laying the dead in the ground, seems to have been the most ancient practice among the Greeks; though burning came afterwards to be generally used among them. It was customary to throw into the funeral pile those garments the deceased usually wore. The pile was lighted by one of the dead person's nearest relations or friends, who made prayers and vows to the winds to assist the flames, that the body might quickly be reduced to ashes; and during the time the pile was burning, the dead person's friends stood by it, pouring libations of wine, and calling upon the deceased.
When Numa reformed the religion of Rome, he ordered that the pontiffs should have the care of the funeral ceremonies; which, in most respects, were like those of the Greeks already described.
The funeral rites among the Hebrews, were solemn and magnificent: when any person was dead, his relations and friends rent their cloaths; which custom is but faintly imitated by the modern Jews, who only cut off a bit 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 then having the figure of the name of God, they thought the devil would not dare to approach it. When they came to the burying place, they made a speech to the dead in the following terms: "Blessed be God, who has formed thee, fed thee, maintain- ed thee, and taken away thy life. O dead! he knows your numbers, and shall one day restore your life, &c." Then they spoke the elegium, or funeral oration, of the deceased; after which they said a prayer, called the righteousness of judgment; then turning the face of the deceased towards heaven, they called out, "Go in peace.
The ancient Christians testified their abhorrence of the Pagan custom of burning the 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 among the ancient Christians.
In the Romish church, when a person is dead, they wash the body, and put a crucifix in its hand. At its feet stands a vessel full of holy water, and a sprinkler, that they who come in may sprinkle both themselves and the deceased. In the mean time some priest stands by the corpse, and prays for the deceased till it is laid in the earth. In the funeral procession, the exorcist walks first, carrying the holy water; next the cross-bearer, afterwards the rest of the clergy, and last of all the officiating priest. They all sing the miserere, and some other psalms; and at the end of each psalm a requiem. We learn from Ale's 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 said; 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 friends and relations of the deceased sprinkle the grave with holy water.
The funeral ceremonies of the Greek church, are much the same with those of the Latin. It needs only 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.