Laws about Sepulcres, and Funerals.
LET the dead be interr'd.
No Tomb is to consist of more work, than ten Men can finish in three days, neither is it to be erected arch-wise, or adorn'd with Statues.
No Grave is to have over it, or by it, Pillars above three cubits high, it's Table, and Labellum or (or little Vessel to contain Victuals for the Ghost's maintenance) are to be of the same height.
He, that defaceth a Sepulcre, or laies one of a different Family in that of another, breaks it, eraseth the Inscription, or beats down the Pil∣lar, shall suffer condign Punishment.
No one shall come near another's Grave, unless at the Celebration of Obsequies.
The Corps shall be laid out at the Relations pleasure, the next day fol∣lowing before Day-light shall be the Funeral Procession; the Men shall proceed first, the Women after them; it's unlawful hereby for any Woman, if under three-score and no Relation, to go where the mourn∣ful Solemnity is kept, or after the Burial is solemniz'd.
Too great a concourse of People is prohibited at Funerals.
Let not the Corps be buried with above three Garments.
Let not Women tear their Faces, or make Lamentations, or Dirges at Funerals.
At every one's Death there shall be paid to the Preistess of Minerva, who is plac'd in the Cittadel, a Choenix of Barley, the like of Wheat, and an Obolus.
No Ox shall be offer'd to atone for, or appease the Ghost of the deceased.
Children and Heirs shall perform the accustom'd Rites of Parentation.
Slaves, when Dead, shall not be embalm'd, or honour'd with a Funeral Banquet.
Let there be no Panegyricks, unless at Funerals publickly Solemniz'd, and then not spoken by Kindred, but one appointed by the Publick for that purpose.
They, who fall in the Field, are to have their Obsequies celebrated at the publick Charge.
Let the Father have the privilege of giving that Son a Funeral Enco∣mium, who dy'd valiantly in the Fight.
He shall have an annual Harangue spoken in his Honour on the day he fell, who receives his Death with undaunted Prowess in the Battel's Front.
Let him, who accidentally lights on an unburied Carkase, cast earth upon it, and let all Bodies be buried West-ward.
Don't speak evil of the Dead, no not, tho' their Children provoke you.