Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Funus

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

FUNUS. A funeral, so termed because, in ancient times, the Romans were always buried by torch light, twisted ropes (funalia) smeared with pitch being carried by the mourners for the purpose. (Isidor. Orig. xi. 2. 34. Donat. ad Terent. Andr. i. 1. 81.) Subsequently, however, the practice of night burial was confined to the poorer classes, who could not afford the expense of a pompous display.

2. Funus publicum or indictivum. A grand and public funeral, celebrated in the day-time, and to which the public were invited by proclamation, to witness the gladiatorial shows and military pageants often displayed upon such occasions. Tac. Ann. vi. 11. Cic. Leg. ii. 24. Festus s. v.

3. Funus gentilitium. A funeral, at which the busts and images of celebrated characters belonging to the same clan (gens) as the deceased, were carried in the procession. (Plin. H. N. xxxv. 2.) This was the usual kind of funeral assigned to persons of distinguished rank or ancient lineage; and a description of the other customs and ceremonies which mostly accompanied it, will be found under the term EXSEQUIAE.

4. Funus tacitum, or translatitium. An ordinary or common funeral, conducted without any pomp or show, such as was usual with private individuals of the middle and poorer classes. Suet. Nero, 33. Ov. Trist. i. 3. 22.

5. The funeral pyre. Suet. Dom. 15. PYRA, ROGUS.

6. A dead body or corpse (Prop i. 17. 8.); whence also the ghost or shade of a deceased person (Prop. iv. 11. 3.), which the ancient artists were accustomed to represent in a corporeal form, shrouded in grave clothes, but endowed with the powers of motion; as shown by the annexed figure (Funus/6.1), from a bas-relief, representing a female whom Mercury, in the original, is conducting to the shades below.

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  Funus/6.1