Misceli. Subj. CX X III. Fol. VI. A'o. 83 



TURKISH TOMBS. 



To the modern Greeks and Turks death, 

 according to the usual manner of antiquity, 

 does not appear under aspects of fear and 

 terror, they rather consider it as a state of 

 sweet repose, without aversion. For that 

 reason they bury their corpses in open cof- 

 fins, trimmed with precious stuffs; they 

 drels the dead body in the best clothes 

 of the deceased, covering him with flo- 

 wers* Thus they commit the last remains 

 to graves situated without the towns, on 

 high - ways or upon hills surrounded by 

 cypresses. These sepulchers, which fre*- 

 quently serve as publick walking - places, 

 are of the most charming forms, consis- 

 ting in open chests of white marble, (Fig. 



II.) near which arise pillars decorated with 

 symbols relative to the sex and rank of 

 the deceased. The turban signifies a man; 

 a kind of urn a woman; a rose denotes a 

 girl. Within these chests, filled with 

 light earth, they plant flowers, that are 

 cultivated with religious care by the rela- 

 tions of the deceased. 



Richer Turks get built whole funeral- 

 halls, ( Fig. I. ) which consist either of 

 open arches, bearing a cupola, or are 

 locked up and enlightened from above. 

 The annexed view likewise exhibits buil- 

 dings of greater compass, provided with 

 open vestibles, where the Mahometans 

 perform their devotion. 



