14 
of this method of sepulture, which prevailed for ages, and ap- 
parently when no other method was in vogue, all over the north 
of Europe, and especially in the neighbourhood of the Euxine 
and about the Crimea; and it was also shewn that barrows 
existed which were regarded as of unknown antiquity even in 
the Homeric ages. The burning of the body of the deceased, 
the collecting of the bones in sepulchral urns, the burial of the 
arms or other ornaments in the same mound, the method of 
making the mound, with or without a circle of foundation-stones, 
and the surmounting of the tumulus itself by a séelé, or stone 
pillar, were all described from Homer; and it was shewn that 
in all these respects the written accounts generally agreed in a 
remarkable manner with observed facts. Sir W. Gell’s identi- 
fication. of the Homeric tumuli with existing barrows was dis- 
cussed; the etymology and significance of several of the Greek 
words relating to this form of burial were explained, and the 
institution of games, with the sacrifice of living victims to the 
spirit of the deceased, illustrated by examples. And a compari- 
son was made of the two detailed accounts in Jivad xxi. and 
XxIv. of the funeral rites performed at the burning and burial 
of the bodies of Patroclus and Hector respectively. Lastly, the 
shape of the ancient barrows, whether oval or circular, was con- 
sidered, in reference both to the expressions in Homer, and to 
modern examples in the Troad, in Sweden, and elsewhere. 
The occasional use of ancient tumuli as land-marks, as posts of 
observation, or as places for holding councils, was proved from 
passages in Homer; and some points were suggested as worthy 
of particular notice in the event of ancient barrows being ex- 
plored. 
ProFEssoR SELWYN inquired whether any differences had 
been observed in the forms of existing tumuli, according to their 
positions, which would strengthen the arguments for their hay- 
ing been used as land-marks; he also made some remarks upon 
the connexion between trees and tumuli. 
