CONSECRATIO,
a Consecration of the Roman Emperors by the Senate and the Peo∣ple after the Emperor was dead. These are the Ceremonies observed at this Consecration or Deification, as they are related by Herodianus.
The Emperour being dead, the whole City sad and mornful was complaining of her loss. They set a waxen Statue of the Emperor upon a Bed of State, at the entry of the Imperial Palace; The Senators were at the left hand dress'd in Mourning Cloaths, and on the Right stood the Roman Ladies dress'd in white Cloaths, keeping all a sad and mournful silence for seven Day together. During that time, the Physici∣ans came from time to time to feel the Pulse of the Patient, saying that his Illness was worse and worse. The seventh day being expired, they published his Death, and all things being prepared for his Obsequies, the chief among the Knights and Senators carried the Bed up∣on their shoulders along the Holy Street, as far as the Old Market-place, (where Magistrates us'd to resign their Offices) attended with mournful Songs, and the noise of Instruments. Afterwards they carried him out of the Town into the Field of Mars, where was a Funeral Pile, dress'd and prepared with sweet Perfumes. The outside of the Funeral Pile was adorn'd with Joiners Work, and rich Stuffs embroider∣ed with Gold, with Ivory Statues and several Pictures. This sumptuous Monument was di∣vided in three Stories, and the Corps was laid in the middle one; then they began the Horse-Race, and the Fights of the Gladiators in Honour of the Dead. And after the Games were over, the Successor to the Empire, hold∣ing in his Hand a burning Torch, set the Fu∣neral Pile on fire, and immediately after an Eagle was seen flying up from the top of it, in the middle of the Fire and Smoak; This Eagle carried away the Soul of the Dead into the company of the Immortal Gods (as they thought) and then presently they worshipped him, erect∣ed Altars to his Honour, and ordained Priests and Sacrifices for him at Rome, and the other Cities of the Empire. Seneca makes a pleasant Jest upon the Apotheosis or Deification of Clau∣dius, which deserves to be the Readers curiosity.