V. On the Origin of Cremation, or the Burning of the Dead. 

 By John Jamieson, D. D. F. EL. S. & F. A. S. E, 



(Read April 3. 1815. ) 



AS far as we can judge from historical records, the primeval 

 mode of disposing of dead bodies, was by inhumation. 

 It has been observed in another essay, that according to Pliny, 

 the ancient Romans did not burn their dead, but consigned 

 them to the earth *, It must be admitted, however, that by 

 some the mode of cremation had been preferred in a very ear- 

 ly period of their history ; as we cannot otherwise account for 

 the prohibition, which Plutarch ascribes to Noma, as to the 

 burning of his body. If we may credit the testimony of Cice- 

 ro, the Greeks, .during the reign of Cecrops, inhumated their 

 dead f. The same mode of interment is attributed, by JElian, 

 to the Athenians % ; and by Plutarch to the Greeks in gene* 

 rai || . It is well known that Cecrops and Panaus, who brought 



L 2 colonies 



* P«jy. Hisf. Nat. ljb viji. c. H. f De Leg, lib. ii. 



% Var. Hist, lib. v. J4. ; vii. 19. j| In Vit. Sown. 



