Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/357

327 PUBLIC FUNERAL AT ATHENS 327

PUBLIC FUNERAL AT ATHENS ^

DuKiNG the same winter, in accordance with an old national custom, the funeral of those who first fell in this war was celebrated by the Athenians at the pub- lic charge. The ceremony is as follows : Three days before the celebration they erect a tent in which the bones of the dead are laid out, and every one brings to his own dead any offering which he pleases. At the time of the funeral the bones are placed in chests of cypress wood, which are conveyed on hearses ; there is one chest for each tribe. They also carry a single empty litter decked with a pall for all who^ bodies are missing, and cannot be recovered after the bat- tle. The procession is accompanied by any one who chooses, whether citizen or stranger, and the female relatives of the deceased are present at the place of interment and make lamentation. The public sepul- chre is situated in the most beautiful spot outside the walls ; there they always bury those who fall in war ; only after the battle of Marathon the dead, in recog- nition of their preeminent valor, were interred on the field. When the remains have been laid in the earth, some man of known ability and high reputation, chosen by the city, delivers a suitable oration over them ; after which the people depart. Such is the manner of interment ; and the ceremony was repeated from time to time throughout the war. Over those who were the first buried Pericles was chosen to speak. At the fitting moment he advanced f I'om the sepulchre to a lofty stage, which had been erected in order that he might be heard as far as possible by the multitude, and spoke as follows : — ...

ί In the winter of 431-430 B. C.