Page:The Ancient City- A Study on the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome.djvu/28

 22 ANCIENT BELIEFS. BOOK 1. they pronounced certain consecrated formulas to in- vite the dead to eat and drink; that if the entire family; were present at the meal, no one touched the food ; that, in fine, when they went away, they took great care to leave a little milk and a few cakes in vases ; and that it was considered gross impiety for any living person to touch this scant provision destined for the needs of the dead.* These usages are attested in the most formal manner. "I pour upon the earth of the tomb," says Ijihigenia in Euripides, "milk, honey, and wine; for it is with these that we rejoice the dead.'"' Among tlic Greeks there was in front of every tomb a place destined for the immolation of the victim and the cooking of its flesh.' The Roman tomb also had its culina^ a species of kitchen, of a })articular kind, and entirely for the use of the dead.'* Plutarch relates that after the battle of Plataea, the slain liaving been buried upon the field of battle, the Plata9ans engaged to offer them the funeral repast every year. Consequent!}', on each anniversary, they went in grand procession, conducted by their first magistrates to the mound under which the dead lay. They oflfered the departed milk, wine, oil, and perfumes, and sacrificed a victim. When the provisions had been placed upon the tomb, the Plataeans pronounced a formula by which tlicy called the dead to come and partake of this repast. This ceremony was still per- formed in the time of Plutarch, who was enabled to Vitness the six hundredth anniversary of it.* A litt'e ' ndt8.,II. 40. Eurip., //ec, 53G. Pausanias, II. 10. "Virgil, V. 98. Ovid, Fast., II. 5GG. Lucian, Charon. ' Euripides, Electra, 513.
 * JSsch., Clweph., 47G. Eurip., Jph., 1G2.
 * Festus, V. Culina.
 * Plutarcli, Aristides, 21.