1. Roman Funerals
By Carey Seeger
Google Images (Roman Funerals)

2. Specific Traditions
Libitinarii (Professional undertakers) would hold the funerals for the socially prominent deceased.
The families would wear masks bearing the images of the family’s deceased ancestors to the funerals
9 days after the disposal of the body (by burial or cremation), a feast would be held called the Cena Novendialis
Google Images (Roman Funerals)

3. Specific Traditions Continued…
The urns of the cremated bodies would be put in an urn and placed in a niche in a collective tomb called a Columbarium.
It was called a Columbarium, because the stacked urns resembled stacked cages.
During this 9 day period, the house was considered to be funesta (tainted) and was hung with cypress branches to warn by-passers.
Google Images (Ancient Roman Urns)

4. Roman Holidays for the Families Dead Ancestors
Parentalia- Held on February 13 through the 21st
Lemuria- Held on May 9,11, and 13th
Google Images (Left: Parentalia) (Right: Lemuria in Ancient Rome)

5. Burial Location
Common sepulchers (small rooms built for the deceased) were usually built below ground called, Hypogea
Prohibited burying or burning in the city for sacred and civil consideration
Roman Catacombs, meaning “by the hollows,” were the underground cemeteries.
Google Images (Hypogea of the Deceased in Ancient Rome)

6. Preparation of the Body
First, the closest relative of the deceased would kiss the person and then close their eyes.
Next, the relatives would begin lamentations, meaning calling on the deceased by name.
Then the body would be placed on the ground, washed, and anointed.
After the body was prepared, it would lay in a state in the atrium of the domus (family home), with the feet pointed towards the door.
Then finally, the body was either cremated or buried. More often than not, the body would be cremated.
The Pompa Funebris (funeral procession), would then take place.