OR THE BURNING OF THE DEAD. 127 



lias 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 

 isacrifical 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 



Pompeius, 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 f. 



* Kirchman. De Funeribus Romanorum, p. 226. 

 f In JEn, lib. vi. 



VL 



