124 ON THE ORIGIN OF CREMATION, 
inhuman act of burning the living with the dead. This act is in- 
variably performed in the vicinity of a river. For all the ashes 
of the dead are collected, and completely dispersed on the wa- 
ter; as if they accounted both these elements, which other 
nations used for purification, necessary for perfecting this hor- 
rid consecration. 
There can be no doubt that the Greeks and Romans also 
worshipped fire, under the names of Esi« and Vesta. It may 
be remarked by the way, that as the Latin name of this deity 
is evidently from the Greek, some learned writers have with 
great probability traced the Greek word to that country in 
which, it has been supposed, fire-worship had its origin. The 
Chaldaic term Zsth signifies fire, synonymous with Hebrew 
Tw, ashch *. 
Whether cremation was originally meant as a sacrifice or 
not, it cannot be denied that a variety of circumstances were 
conjoined with it, which had the closest connexion with this 
act of religion. 
The funeral-pile was erected in the form of an altar. Hence 
the language of Vircit, when describing the obsequigs of Mr- 
SENUS 3 
Aramque sepulchri 
Congerere arboribus, czloque educere certant. 
fin. lib. vi. 
—— 
Cremation was accompanied with the oblation of victims. 
Originally the blood of captives was shed. Acutuzs sacrificed 
twelve gallant Trojans in honour of his friend Parrocuus fF. 
Gladiators were afterwards substituted for captives. These 
were 
* V. Srucku Sacr. p. 151.; Pier. Hieroglyph. fol. 135, b.; Bocuart, de 
fEn, p. 13. 
+ Iliad. ¥ ver. 175. 
