OR THE BURNING OF 'THE DEAD 115 
“* but when it sees the figure of the face changed, it goes away, 
“* and leaves it *.” 
The Greeks and Romans found this doctrine indispensably 
necessary for the support of a very considerable branch of their 
system of polytheism. As they ascribed to their heroes or de- 
migods a corporeal substance that was partly immortal, they 
founded this strange notion on another which was not less ab- 
surd. They believed that this partial immortality proceeded 
from their being in part descended from the gods. Hence, as 
they supposed that their bodily frame originated partly from 
mortal, and partly from immortal seed, they persuaded them- 
selves that the fire of the funeral-pile effected a separation be- 
tween these heterogeneous principles; and that not only the 
soul, but, as it was sometimes designed, the divine portion of 
the body, was carried into aemaosnll Of this extravagant no- 
tion we find many vestiges in their writings. Hercuxss, it is 
said, consecrated himself by burning ; and was, in consequence 
of this devotement, admitted into the number of the immortal 
gods. Hence Catirmacuus says of him ; 
"Ov yae oye Devyin ree veo oovi yvie bewbels 
Tlavour’ adyQaying. 
Hymn. in Dian. ver. 159. 
It is evident that the poet ascribes immortality to the mem- 
bers of the hero. - Some have confined the term yi« to his 
soul. But the language will not bear this restriction. For 
the very design of it is to shew, that Hercutns did not lose his 
appetite with his deification, but ate as keenly as he had done 
during his mortal life, and even while he followed the plough ; 
_ and that, therefore, it was necessary that the Amnisian nymphs 
Fe 2 should 
"% Bereshit Rabbay § 100. f. 86. 
