We shall now proceed to give some account of the various funeral solemnities which have been practised among different nations, and in different ages of the world, so far as they can be collected from credible au thorities.
Among the Jews, all those who happen to be present when any person has just expired, tear their clothes, ac cording to the ancient custom of the Hebrews. The dead body is then placed on a sheet spread on the pavement, with the thumb turned inward to the hand, and a wax taper burning at the head or feet. The deceased is wash ed, and a clean shirt put upon him, and over the shirt a garment of fine linen, which he wore on the day of solemn expiation ; then his taled, which is a piece of square cloth with tufts. Lastly, a white cap is put on his head, and he is then shut up in the coffin. Anciently, it appears to have been a custom in Palestine, to embalm the bodies of persons of distinction and fortune ; but this was never generally practised. After the body has been exposed, the relations meet to accompany it to the ground. In ancient times, they had women hired to cry, and persons who played on doleful instruments, and who walked in procession. Persons who met the funeral procession in civility joined the company, and mingled their groans. At the place of burial, the coffin is set down on the ground ; then, if the deceased was a person of rank, sonic one makes his encomium : after which they walk ten times about the grave, repeating a long prayer, begin ning, " God is the rock, his way is perfect," Exc. (Dent. xxxii. 4.) The body is then let down into the grave, with its face turned towards heaven ; the nearest relations throw the earth upon it, and the grave is filled. When they depart from the spot, they walk backward, and pul ling up some grass three several times, they throw it be hind their backs, repeating, " They shall flourish like the grass of the earth." 1'3. lxxii. 16. (See Calmet's Dict. of the Bildc, v. 1) EA D.) The funeral solemnities of the Greeks seem to have varied, according to the peculiar sentiments and habits of the different states, and the rank and condition of the de ceased. In general, the poorer classes were interred in public cemeteries, without any great external pomp or mark of distinction. Persons of fortune, on the other hand, were usually buried with much splendor. Of these, some were burnt to ashes on a magnificent pyre, and their ashes carefully collected and deposited in an ornamented urn ; while others were embalmed, after the Egyptian fashion, and then removed to some stone or marble tomb provided for the express purpose.
The Athenians were much more ceremonious than any other people in regard to the burial of their dead. Their
funerals were frequently celebrated with the most extra vagant pomp ; which at one period was carried to suci7 an extreme, that Solon was compelled to introduce and enforce a law for its moderation. Dirges, or funeral songs, often of exquisite beauty, were adapted to music, and not only sung or repeated over the grave or funeral pyre, but afterwards recited, in full band, while funeral games and exercises were performed at the place of se pulture. But this extravagant pageantry, which was con ferred upon all who were rich enough to afford it, was greatly exceeded on the death of any distinguished patriot or warrior ; on which occasions, the expence incurred, which was generally enormous, was always discharged by the community. Of this extreme prodigality we have an example in the funeral of Evagoras ; and also in that of Demetrius, which is related at large by Plutarch, in Vit. Denzetr. See Mason Good's Lucretius, b. iii. v. 923, N. But the most magnificent public funeral, perhaps, of which we have any account, was that of Alexander the Great, when his body was brought from Babylon to Alex andria; a minute description of which is given by Diodo rus Siculus.
The manner in which the funerals of those who died in defence of their country were solemnized at Athens, is worthy of particular notice, as it cannot fail to afford us an elevated idea of that polished and patriotic people. On a day appointed, the bones of the deceased, contained in a number of coffins made of cypress wood, were placed beneath a large tent erected for the purpose, and exposed to the public view ; so that all those who had relations to deplore, might assemble to weep over them, and to perform the duties which tenderness dictated, or religion enjoined. Various sorts of odoriferous herbs and flowers were brought to the spot by the friends of the departed, and strewn around the tent. Three days afterwards, the coffins were placed upon as many cars as there were tribes ; with an empty hearse, in memory of those who could not be found. These were carried slowly, in pro cession, through the town to the Ccranzicus, or public place of burial, where funeral games were celebrated in honour of the deceased. The bodies were then commit ted to the earth, amidst the weeping and lamentation of a numerous train of mourners. An orator, appointed by the republic, pronounced, from an elevated spot, a funeral oration, in praise of his valiant countrymen ; and each tribe raised over the graves of its members a column, or monument of sonic kind, upon which were inscribed the names of the deceased, their age, and the places where they had fallen. Sec Beloe's Hcrodot. rol. ii. p. 65. N.