[Rarebooks] fs: Burn! Burn! Burn! Ancient Roman Funerals, 1672

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

Kirchmann, Johannes. LUBECENSIS DE FUNERIBUS ROMANORUM Libri Quator cum 
Appendice, Nitidissimis Figuris illustrati. Accessit et Funus Parasiticum 
Nicolai Rigaltii.

(Bound with)

In Funere V.C.L. Pauli G.F.P.N. Merulae, Historiarum Professoris In 
Academia Batavorum...Oratio...

Both Leyden; Hackius: 1672.

The first volume is a wide-ranging work on the funeral rites and practices 
of the ancient Romans, including preservation of the corpse, the mourners 
and funeral processions, cremations, burials and memorials.

Written in four parts, each part is illustrated with an engraved, folding 
plate by Romeyn de Hooghe: the first plate illustrates the corpse of a 
noble lady being borne on an elaborately draped litter by a group of 
soldiers while attendants wave wreaths and flowers; the second plate 
illustrates the funeral procession through the city with soldiers, 
attendants and mourners carrying torches and wreaths, horses prancing, 
mourners wailing, etc; the third plate illustrates the cremation of a body 
upon a pyre of logs some twenty feet high -in the foreground attendants 
prepare sacrifices of animals and birds and (it appears) several 
unfortunate people, possibly slaves; the fourth plate shows offerings of 
dead animals, wine and fruits being placed before an elaborate memorial be 
decked with garlands and wreaths.

The engraved title page is also of interest, picturing another flaming 
cremation, this one taking place upon a pyre which is fully five stories 
high, fitted out with columns and draped with curtains and statuary -at the 
top a chariot and horses stand ready for the flight to the afterworld (one 
assumes). The appendix is a charming little treatise published in the same 
year, written by Nicolai Rigaltio, on the subject of parasites and 
protecting the corpse from them. The second book, bound in, is a funeral 
oration, also by Kirchmann, delivered at the funeral of Paulus Mercula.

3.5"x5.5", engraved title page + an additional title page + (44) + 649 
+(47) + (2) + 24 pages + 4 engraved folding plates by Romeyn de Hooghe; 
woodcut device on the title page and woodcut initials. The second work 
contains a title page and 64 pages of text. Bound in old full vellum with 
gilt spine decorations and a leather spine label; covers somewhat soiled 
and with two small holes in the spine; some internal browning, engraved 
title page torn at the upper corner, not affecting the image or plate 
margin. [20586] $650.00

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