OR THE BURNING OF THE DEAD. 127 
has remarked, that he finds incense mentioned among other 
spices, which were thrown into the funeral-pile. The great 
expence in multiplying these might latterly proceed from mere 
ostentation. In some instances, they might be merely meant 
to overpower the fetid odour arising from the act of cremation. 
But it may be supposed, that the use of incense had originally a 
sacrifical signification. Lucan, when describing the funeral of 
Pompey, mentions this as the only odoriferous substance that. 
was burnt with the body *. 
Non pretiosa petit cumulato thure sepulchra 
Pomrstus, Fortuna, tuus. 
Pharsal. lib, viii, 
Without particularising the games celebrated at funerals, or 
the feasts connected with them, which were on other occasions 
accompaniments of sacrifice, I shall only add, that besides the 
pyre, which had the form of an altar, another altar was erected, 
after cremation, immediately before the sepulchre. This recei- 
ved the name of acerra; and is by Servius expressly distin- 
guished from the funeral pile +. 
* Kircuman. De Funeribus Romanorunm, p. 226. 
+ In dn, lib. vi. 
VI 
oe i 
