FUNERAL RITES, 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 neigh- 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. Palmody, or singing of psalms, was the great ceremony used in all funeral processions among the ancient Christians.
In the Roman 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 Alex'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.
Funeral-Games, a part of the ceremony of the ancient funerals.
It was customary for persons of quality, among 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 take up the greatest part of one of Homer's Iliads; and Agamemnon's ghost is introduced by the same poet telling the ghost of Achilles, that he had been a spectator at a great number of such solemnities.
The celebration of these games among the Greeks, mostly consisted of horse-races; the prizes were of different sorts and value, according to the quality and magnificence of the person that celebrated them. The garlands, given to victors on this occasion, were usually of parsley, which was thought to have some particular relation to the dead.
Those games, among 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... before the pile, as victims to appease the manes of the deceased. Caesar relates, that the Gauls had this custom.
The funeral games were abolished by the emperor Claudius.