The Eternal Rest:
Ancient Roman Funeral Customs and Rituals
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The ancient Romans had various practices and rituals for dealing with the deceased. Here were some common practices:
The ancient Romans had various practices and rituals for dealing with the deceased. Here were some common practices:
Columbaria of Vigna Codini
Columbaria of Vigna Codini
Cremation: Cremation was also a common practice among the Romans. The body would be cremated on a funeral pyre, and ashes would be collected and placed in a niche in a columbarium.
(Columbaria were buildings or structures specifically designed to house urns containing cremated remains. These were often communal spaces where multiple urns would be stored in niches or compartments.)
Roman Mausoleum of Fabara
Roman Mausoleum of Fabara
Burial: The most common method of disposing of the dead in ancient Rome was burial. The deceased would be placed in a coffin or wrapped in a shroud and buried in a tome or grave. Wealthier Romans often had elaborate tombs or mausoleums, while the less affluent would be buried in simple graves.
(A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the burial chamber of a deceased person or people. A mausoleum without the person's remains is called a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb, or the tomb may be considered to be within the mausoleum.)
Funerary Rituals: Romans had various rituals associated with funerals. These included a procession to the burial site, where mourners would carry the body or the ashes. Funeral orations were delievered, and offerings such as flowers, food, and wine were made to the deceased
FEAST
FEAST
No funeral was complete unless there was a ritual feast at the end of it. The funeral was the final marker that told the deceased that he/she could continue on to the underworld and the family would be able to move forward
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