Roman Funerals Magistra Slough

Grief

Professional Mourners

Funeral Procession - Pompa Body lain in the Atrium, surrounded by lucernae and candelae.

The Procession

Who’s in the Procession?? Professional Mourners Professional Mourners Singers of Dirges (neniae) Singers of Dirges (neniae) Members of the mourning family and household Members of the mourning family and household Buffoons Buffoons Actors: masks of the dead ancestors (imagines) Actors: masks of the dead ancestors (imagines) (lictores – public attendants, who carried fasces) (lictores – public attendants, who carried fasces)

Laudatio In the Forum In the Forum Speech of praise, in honor of the dead. Speech of praise, in honor of the dead.

Funeral pyre After NINE days of mourning a FOOD OFFERING was made at the tomb to the spirit of the dead man (MANES).

Poor funerals Burials rather than cremation. Burials rather than cremation. Public cemetaries Public cemetaries After dark After dark Minimum of ceremony Minimum of ceremony