(from ἐπί, upon, and ἑορτή, funeral), in Greek and Latin poetry, a poem, or poetical composition, on the death of any one. At the obsequies of persons of consequence there were three kinds of discourses usually made: that rehearsed at the bustum or funeral pile was called news; that engraven on the tomb, epitaphion; and that spoken in the ceremony of his funeral, epicedion. We have two beautiful epicedions in Virgil; that of Eurysus, and that of Pallas.