The ancient Greeks were strongly persuaded
that their souls could not be admitted into the Elysian fields till
their bodies were committed to the earth; therefore the honours (says
Potter) paid to the dead were the greatest and most necessary; for
these were looked upon as a debt so sacred, that such as neglected to
discharge it were thought accursed. Those who died in foreign
countries had usually their ashes brought home and interred in the
sepulchres of their ancestors, or at least in some part of their
native country; it being thought that the same mother which gave them
life and birth, was only fit to receive their remains, and afford them
a peaceful habitation after death. Whence ancient authors afford as
innumerable instances of bodies conveyed, sometimes by the command of
oracles, sometimes by the good-will of their friends, from foreign
countries to the sepulchres of their fathers, and with great solemnity
deposited there. Thus, Theseus was removed from Scyros to Athens,
Orestes from Tegea, &c. Nor was this pious care limited to persons of
free condition, but slaves also had some share therein; for we find
(says Potter) the Athenian lawgiver commanding the magistrates, called
_Demarchi_, under a severe penalty, to solemnize the funerals, not so
much of citizens, whose friends seldom failed of paying the last
honours, as of slaves, who frequently were destitute of decent burial.
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