TONI B. The custom of interring the dead seems to he more ancient than that of burning, and in many countries we find that great pains were taken to preserve them by em balming and similar methods. The practice of burning the bodies would seem to be of later date, and at no period of time universal ; under these circumstances, however, the ashes were usually preserved with great care in some structure set apart for that especial purpose. Great reverence has always been shown for the bodies of the departed ; a feeling which has been exhibited in different manners, according to the time and place : the interment would appear to have been always connected with some religious rite. In some places,the bodies were simply inhumed or deposited in the earth without any erection above them, save that of a tumulus of earth ; in others, they were embalmed at great expense, and placed in structures of greater or less magnificence ; whilst in others again they were deposited in natural caves or excavations beneath the surface of the earth.
Perhaps no people have ever expended greater care upon their dead than the Egyptians, a fact which may be readily accounted for by the tenets of their religion. This nation was accustomed to adopt both the latter practices, as is mani fest by their building those vast structures, the pyramids, which have been proved to have been erected for the pur pose, as well as by the existence of an extensive range of excavations below the surface of the ground. Of the latter, as well as of the pyramids, will be found an account under the article EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE, and of the PYRAMIDS, under that article.
Many sepulchral grottos have been found in the plains of Etruria. They are hollowed out of a rock, sometimes dis posed in the form of a cross, or with three wings, and some times squared in different proportions. Doors have been formed to lead from one grotto to another ; sometimes they are above each other. These grottos are not very deep, and the interior is often adorned with paintings. In Campania, also, several tombs have been discovered, containing Etrus can vases. They are represented as being formed by an enclosure of cut stones, and covered with a sort of roof or flagstone shelving on both sides. The dead body was stretched out on the ground, the feet turned towards the entrance of the sepulchre, and the head ranged against the wail, from which were suspended, by bronze nails, vases of terra-cotta, whilst others of a similar kind were disposed around the body.
At Agrigentum, the tombs are a sort of troughs ranged one above another, sometimes arched, or chambers with rent holes in the roof; only two inches apart from each other. In some parts of Greece and Italy are sepulchral chambers excavated in the rock, and formed like a bell, as at Am phissa. in the valley of Ispica, in Sicily, Denon found tombs, formed out of a hollow stone, upwards of 5 feet long and 15 inches wide.
Tumuli, or large mounds of earth, are of very ancient date, and are to be found in various situations. They are frequently found encompassed by a large square wall, as that ofiAlyattes in Lydia, of yEg•yptus in Arcadia, and of Phocus in iEgina besides many others in Greece and Asia, and in western Scythia. in one, with a circular wall, which was opened between Smyrna and Pergamus, were found galleries and chambers. One of the tumuli in the plain of Athens having been opened, was found to contain a chamber finely constructed of large blocks of stone, in which was a vase of terra-cotta, with figures and inscriptions.
Of a similar kind, though of smaller dimensions, were those mounds which are termed barrows, and which are common in many parts of Europe and Asia. " The Russians, in effecting a practicable road to China, discovered, in fifty degrees north latitude, between the rivers Irtish and Obalet, a desert of very considerable extent, overspread in many parts with tumuli or barrows." One of the largest of these bar rows was opened by the Russian government, and was found to contain the body of a prince. " After removiiig a very deep covering of earth and stones, the workmen came to three vaults constructed of stones of rude workmanship. That wherein the prince was deposited, which was in the centre, and the largest of the three, was easily distinguished by the sword, spear, bow, quiver and arrow which lay beside him. In the vault beyond him, towards which his feet lay, were his horse, bridle, saddle, and stirrups. The body of the prince lay in a reclining posture upon a sheet of pure gold, extending from head to feet, and another sheet of gold of the like dimensions was spread over him. lie was wrapped in a rich mantle, bordered with gold, and studded with rubies and emeralds. This head, neck, breast, and arms naked, and without any ornament. In the lesser vault lay the princess, distinguished by her female ornaments. She was placed reclining against the wall, with a gold chain of many links set with rubies round her neck, and gold bracelets round her arms. The head, breast, and arms were naked. The body was covered with a rich robe, but without any border of gold or jewels, and was laid on a sheet of fine gold, and covered over with another. The four sheets of gold weighed forty pounds. The robes of both looked fair and complete, but, upon touching, crumbled into dust." The tombs near Per gamus in Asia Minor are cones of earth with chambers or vaults constructed in the interior. The tomb of Anthridates in the Crimea, is an immense tumulus of hemispherical form, constructed with huge masses of stone of an irregular shape, heaped together without the aid of cement of any kind. This kind of construction is the same as that to be found at Tyrus and Mycene, and is supposed to have been of very ancient date. See PELASGIAN ARCHITECTURE.