102 ON THE ORIGIN OF CREMATION, 
duces Hexen as saying, “ Our houses are pure, not being defi- 
“ Jed by the death of Menetaus*.” To this idea, of defile- 
ment being contracted by approximation to the dead, we ought 
undoubtedly to trace the custom which prevailed among the 
Romans, of thrice sprinkling with consecrated water all the re- 
lations of the deceased, and all who had attended the funeral ; 
who were then said to have received expiation or lustration. 
This ceremony was performed by a priest, after the burnt bones 
had been put into an urn, and immediately before he gave the 
company leave to depart, by pronouncing the words of vale- 
diction. 
Ossaque lecta cado texit Chorinzus aheno : 
Idem ter socios pura circumtulit unda, 
Spargens rore levi, et ramo felicis olive, 
Lustravitque viros, dixitque novissima verba. 
Vira. En. lib. vi. 
As a further purification, those who had attended the obse- 
quies of the dead, after being sprinkled with water, as we learn 
from Festus, stepped over a fire. This act was called Suffitus. 
The house was also purified, and swept with a particular kind 
of besom. The Ferie Denicales were certain ceremonies insti- 
tuted with this design. The Flamen of Juprrer was laid under 
the same restrictions as the Jewish High-priest. He was not 
permitted to touch the dead, or even to approach a grave f. 
The ancient Scythians themselves, though strangers to any 
species of refinement, supposed that they necessarily contract- 
ed defilement from the dead. Herovorus relates according- 
ly, 
Evriewm. Helen. vers. 1446. 
+ Aut. Gewn. Noct. Attic. lib. x. c. 15. 
