Cremation of the Dead: Its History and Bearings Upon Public Health

Chapter VI: Cremation, Ancient and Modern (2)

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The custom of depositing the painted vases in tombs ceased about the time when Italy and Sicily fell completely under Roman dominion. The Romans, who burnt their dead, deposited their ashes in urns, as we have seen. No ashes, it may be said generally, have been found in the Greek tombs of Italy, but the Romans made use of the vases found in tombs made by the Greeks there, as cinerary urns for their dead; and this appropriation was not uncommon. In the case of a member of the Roman family of Claudia an ancient Egyptian vase, now in the Louvre, was utilised in this manner.

The ancient painted vases are now divided into six classes, embracing forty-nine various shapes.[210] The styles are also divided into Early or Egyptian, Archaic Greek, Severe or Transitional, Beautiful or Greek, Florid, and into those of the Decadence period. Should cremation be extensively adopted nowadays, it is not unlikely that all these forms and styles will be laid under contribution. A friend[211] has kindly drawn for the present work a dozen urns, adapted for the reception of human ashes (_see_ Plate IV.). Fig. 1 is Archaic in shape; fig. 3 belongs to the Perfect or Beautiful forms; and fig. 2 represents a shape often used during the Florid era. The others are original designs based upon classic lines, but not referable to any one period. Some very elegant forms of the ancient vases, copied from gems and other archæological resources, are to be found embodied in the monuments of the churchyards and cemeteries of the present day.[212]

[210] H. M. Westropp.

[211] The artist, Mr. J. E. Newton, an exhibitor at the Royal
Academy of 1874. I have engraved a few of his designs.

[212] The above remarks do not refer to those monster urns in which
the whole body was entombed unburnt. Some of these measure six feet
in length and four and a half feet in width. One found at Dardanus
was able to accommodate six persons. See the 'Illustrated London
News' of April 26, 1856.

Had the practice of cremation followed uninterruptedly down to our times, the receptacles for the ashes would doubtless have been shaped according to the prevailing taste of each period of architecture. For instance, the genius of the Semicircular style, which prevailed from the sixth to the twelfth centuries, and embraced the Anglo-Saxon and Norman periods, would have left its own peculiar mark, just as it has done upon the fonts which were sculptured during its sway. The Early Pointed, the Geometrical, and the Decorated and Late or Perpendicular Gothic periods would, in a similar manner, have influenced the symmetry of the vases produced between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries, and contributed their own quota of beautiful shapes. And, speaking generally, ecclesiastical taste, which presided over every detail of church construction down even to the piercing of the keys, would have been as easily recognisable in the vases which contained the ashes of the dead.

It is impossible to prophesy in what direction the taste of the future may wander as regards the shape of cinerary vessels, but there can be no doubt whatever that in many instances they will assume a distinctly ecclesiastical character. The classic patterns of vases and urns would be in excellent keeping with the architecture of churches built after Greek and Roman models; whilst they might appear otherwise if exposed to view in the niches of the walls of a Gothic fane. But it may fairly be predicted that the architectural style of the church will have to bow to the varying tastes of the worshippers, and just as we see in Westminster Abbey--that beautiful example of the Early Pointed style--the utmost diversity of taste in the monuments which cluster upon its walls, so the walls and vaults of our churches must necessarily accommodate every type of fancy whenever cremation resumes its sway. Cinerary vessels, in accordance with revived mediæval taste, will probably predominate. Some, it may be, will even assume the shapes of ancient reliquaries.[213] There is no reason why these vessels should not vary, in material and design, with the taste or means of the relatives. Glass, precious metals, and even gems, might with propriety be introduced. Urns of gold and silver were not uncommon in ancient times, and are even yet used in Siam.

[213] My friend Mr. Clarke has very kindly sketched, in elucidation
of this view, the vessels shown in the family mausoleum sketched in
Plate V.

With reference to the material of which cinerary urns were formerly made, pottery was chiefly chosen on account of the facility of manufacture, but they were frequently constructed of marble, alabaster, and glass. Perhaps the most beautiful cinerary urn in the world was the Barberini or Portland vase, now in the British Museum, and which contained the ashes of the Emperor Alexander Severus. It was made of blue glass upon which a coating of white glass was overlaid, and the latter cut cameo fashion into a number of emblematical figures. Glass was frequently adopted in Italy for cinerary urns, and will probably be the favourite material once more.

Besides the placing of the ashes of the dead in urns, use was frequently made of small stone sarcophagi, and these latter are found in several of the ancient Greek burial-grounds in Anatolia. This will possibly be the form adopted in the future, should an interment of the ashes be chosen in preference to their ennichement. But this is not to say that urns are not equally suitable for laying in the earth if constructed with that view. Probably both forms of containing vessels will be patronised, just as was the case in olden times. In ancient Dardanus stone sarcophagi are commonly found, whilst at Batak, nearer the supposed site of Troy, urns only were discoverable; and yet the ornaments upon the smaller articles of pottery, found in both sarcophagi and urns, were identical in pattern, as far as I can recollect.[214]

[214] Numbers of these relics were dug up at both places, in 1855
and 1856, by Mr. Spencer Wells, Dr. Kirk, Mr. Calvert, Mr. Brunton,
myself, and others.

The cinerary urns of the Romans were for the most part at one time placed in underground vaults, the walls of which were pierced with arched recesses for their reception, and, from the resemblance of the numerous niches to a collection of pigeon-holes, the place was called a _columbarium_. Two fine columbaria can be seen at Rome, one in the Vigna Codini and another in the Villa Doria. Should this system of storing away the cinerary urns be adopted in our churches, the crypts would for the most part resemble the sketch given in Plate VI., which is an enlargement and rearrangement of the columbarium given in Westropp's 'Handbook of Archæology.' There can be no doubt that this will prove the most popular method of disposing of the urns in modern cities where cremation is about to be practised. The catacombs in our cemeteries, or what pass as such, will also admirably enshrine the urns. It is not at all unlikely that in some instances the walls of the churches themselves will in future be constructed so as to receive the remains, and bear some sort of resemblance to the famous church at Cologne where the osteological relics are placed around the fane.[215] But in the case of urn sepulture the appearance would be far more æsthetical. In all probability the wall spaces would be apportioned out into family receptacles, and the orifices closed with suitable metal gratings ornamentally treated. I have furnished an imaginary view of this kind of treatment at the upper part of Plate VI.

[215] The church of St. Ursula; the bones are said to be those of
the Eleven Thousand Virgins.

My task is now completed; but before I lay down the pen I would say to those who are desirous of promoting the cause of cremation, Do so, within due bounds, fearlessly. Do not believe that the practice is in any way opposed to religion, for such a belief has no anchorage in truth. And in order to practically bring nearer to us the time when our much-enduring mother earth shall no longer be systematically poisoned, all those who are favourable to the institution of cremation should forthwith put into writing their desire that their remains shall not be buried, but shall be consumed according to the method of cremation best attainable.

If every individual promoter, male or female, of fifteen years old and upwards--without reference to the possession of property in any way--would, in view of the uncertainty of life, place such a request in his or her writing-desk, cremation would speedily prevail. The change from burial will otherwise be a protracted one, since few persons have enough strength of mind to run counter to the general custom, fearing the indignation of other relatives of the deceased. The weakest persons, however, have still a greater repugnance to doing anything contrary to the expressed wishes of the dead. If, therefore, such a wish can be exhibited, it will not only, as a rule, be religiously complied with, but all friends, whatever their own opinions, will be amply satisfied.[216]

[216] This is urged by Mr. Baker, the author of the 'Laws relating
to Burial,' in a letter addressed to me.

_BIBLIOGRAPHY OF CREMATION._

SIR THOMAS BROWNE--_Hydriotaphia, or Urn-Burial._ 1658.

DR. J. JAMIESON--_Origin of Cremation._ Proc. R. S. of Ed., 1817.

GRIMM--_Ueber das Verbrennen der Leichen._ Berlin Acad. Sc.,
1849.

DR. J. P. TRUSEN--_Die Leichenverbrennung._ Breslau, 1855.

HERMANN RICHTER--Article in the _Gartenlaube_, No. 49. 1856.

MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS (C. COBBE)--_Burning
the Dead, or Urn-sepulture Religiously, Socially, and Generally
considered._ 1857.

COL. T. MARTIN--_Specification of a Cinerator, for use of
Brahmins and other Hindoo Castes, &c._ Poonah, 1864.

PROFESSOR COLETTI--_Memoria sulla Incinerazione dei Cadaveri._
'Memoria letta all' Accademia di Scienze e Lettere di Padova,'
January 11, 1857. Reproduced in the _Gazetta Medica Prov.
Venete_, 1866.

DR. J. P. TRUSEN--_Denkschrift zur Leichenverbrennung._ Namslau,
1860.

DR. GIRO--'Sull' Incinerazione dei Cadaveri.' Padova: _Gazetta
Medica Prov. Venete_. 1866.

THE REV. A. K. H. B.--_Recreations of a Country Parson._ 2nd
Series. 'Essay concerning Churchyards.' London, 1866.

DR. DU JARDIN--'Studii e Proposte sulla Cremazione.' _La
Salute._ Genoa, 1867.

LIEBALL--_Der Welt Verderben durch Leichenbeerdigung und das
neue Paradies durch Leichenverbrennung._ München, 1868.

PROFESSOR CASTIGLIONI--_Sulla Cremazione dei Cadaveri._ Firenze,
1870.

DR. DU JARDIN--'La Guerra e le sue Vittime; l'Incinerazione ed
il Seppellimento dei Cadaveri.' _La Salute._ 1870.

H. W. HEMSWORTH--'Incremation by State Regulation.' _Rectangular
Review._ October, 1870.

J. LEFORT--'Remarques sur l'Altération des Eaux de Puits par le
Voisinage des Cimetières.' _Bull. de l'Académie de Médecine_, t.
36. 1871.

PROFESSOR GOLFARELLI--_Discorso sullo stesso Argomento._
Firenze, April 1871.

PROFESSOR GORINI--_I Vulcani sperimentali._ 1872.

PROFESSOR POLLI--_Sulla Incinerazione dei Cadaveri._ Letta al
Reale Instituto Lombardo. Reproduced in French by Dr. Janssens,
in the _Presse Médicale Belge_.

DR. G. PINI--'La-Cremazione dei Cadaveri.' _Gazetta di Milano_
of September 26 and 27, and December 29, 1872; also of November
17 and 23, 1873; also separate publication: same title. Milano,
1873.

DR. ROTA--_L'Incinerazione dei Cadaveri è ammissibile?_ Chiari,
1872.

DR. G. B. AYR--'La Cremazione e l'Igiene.' _Annali di Chemica di
Milano._ December 1872 and January 1873.

DR. A. MORETTI--'Nota Poetica.' _Annali di Chemica._ Milan,
December 1872.

DR. O. GRANDESSO-SILVESTRI--'Sull' Incinerazione dei Cadaveri
umani.' _Annali di Medicina Pubblica_, No. 29, 1872; and
_Gazetta Medica Prov. Venete_. October 1872.

DR. F. VALERANI--Articles in the _Opinione di Firenze_, December
1872, and in the _Emporio Pittoresco di Milano_, No. 442. 1873.
Reproduced in the _Schweiz Grenzpost_, January 18, 1873.

PROFESSOR POLIZZI--_Carme dedicato alla Signora Emilia Salsi._
Girgente, 1873.

P. FORNARI--'Humatio vel crematio,' in the Journal _La Guida del
Maestro elementare Italiano_. Torino, March 1873.

DR. J. E. NEILD--_On the Advantages of Burning the Dead._
Melbourne, 1873.

PROFESSOR E. A. PARKES--_Practical Hygiene_, Articles on
_Disposal of the Dead_, &c. London, 1873.

DR. C. MUSATTI--'Intorno alla Incinerazione dei Cadaveri.'
_Giornale Veneto di Scienze Mediche._ Venezia, February 1873.
Also _Gaz. Med. Prov. Ven._ Padova, 1874.

DR. F. ANELLI--'La Cremazione dei Cadaveri.' _Ann. di Chim._
Milano, April 1873.

DR. O. GIACCHI--'La Cremazione dei Cadaveri.' _Gazetta
Medica-Lombardia._ Milano, 1873.

PROFESSOR BRUNETTI--_La Cremazione dei Cadaveri._ Padova, 1873.
Also in _L'Opinione_. March 11, 1874.

An Article, entitled 'Brûlez les Corps et ne les ensevelissez
pas,' in the _Gazette de Bruxelles_. March 30, 1873.

DR. DE PIETRA SANTA--'La Crémation des Morts en Italie.' _Union
Médicale_, September 1873. Afterwards published separately.

PROFESSOR AMATO AMATI--'Sulla Cremazione dei Cadaveri.' _Annali
di Chimica._ Milano, October 1873.

DR. CAFFE--Numerous Articles in his _Journal des Connaissances
Médicales_. Paris, 1873 &c.

Articles on 'Beerdigung und Verbrennung der Leichen,' in the
_Volksblatt des Bezirkes_. Zürich, October 25, 28, and 30, 1873.

PROFESSOR ZINNO--'Sulla Inumazione, Imbalsamazione e Cremazione
dei Cadaveri,' in _Piria: Giornale di Chimica_. June 30, July
13 and 15, and August 15, 1873. 'Ancora sulla Cremazione dei
Cadaveri,' in _Piria_. Palermo, October 1873.

PROFESSOR GORINI--_La Conservazione della Salma di Mazzini_, p.
45. Genova, 1873.

Article in _L'Osservatore Cattolico Milano_. 1873.

SIR HENRY THOMPSON--'Our Treatment of the Dead.' _Contemporary
Review._ January 1874. 'Cremation,' March 1874. Republished
together under the title of _Cremation: the Treatment of the
Body after Death_. 2nd ed. King and Co., London, 1874.

CAJO PEYRANI--Article in _Il Presente_. Parma, 1874.

DR. CARLO FOLDI--'La Cremazione,' in _Il Sole_. Milano, 1874.

Article on 'La Cremazione dei Cadaveri,' in _Il Popolo
Cattolico_. Milano, 1874.

VEGMANN-ERCOLANI--_Bericht über die offentlichen Versammlungen
zur Besprechung der Leichenverbrennungsfrage in Zürich._
Zürich, 1874. Also _Ueber Leichenverbrennung als rationellste
Bestattungsart_. 4th ed. Zürich, 1874.

M. A. PRINS--Conference at Brussels; reported in an Article, 'La
Crémation des Morts,' in _L'Indépendance Belge_. April 12, 1874.

PROFESSOR RECLAM--Articles in the _Allg. Augsburger Zeitung_.
March 6, 1874. 'Die Feuerbestattung,' in the _Gartenlaube_,
No. 19. 1874. With drawing of furnace. The latter Article was
reproduced, with the plate, in the _Saturday Journal_, September
1874.

DR. F. KÜCHENMEISTER--_Ueber Leichenverbrennung._ Erlangen, 1874.

PROFESSOR UNGER--Article in the _Göttinger Anthropologischen
Vereins_, Part I. 1874.

Three Articles, 'Begraben oder Verbrennen,' in the _Siesta_.
Frankfort, May 1874.

Articles on 'Cremation' in _Iron_. January 3 and June 13, 1874.

PROFESSOR P. FRAZER.--'The Merits of Cremation.' _Penn Monthly_,
June 1874; _Transatlantic_, August 1874. Since printed
separately.

A work entitled _Brúlons nos Morts_. _La Crémation._ Paris,
1874. Reviewed by M. F. Sarcey in the _XIX. Siècle_, June 5,
1874.

THE BISHOP OF LINCOLN--_Sermon_ delivered at Westminster Abbey,
July 5, 1874, and since published.

FEUILLETON in _L'Abeille Médicale_, 'De la Crémation des
Cadavres.' July 13, 1874.

DR. A. BAGINSKY--_Die Leichenverbrennung vom Standpunkt der
Hygieine._

DR. S. BERNSTEIN--_Ueber Pietät gegen die Todten._ These two
latter Papers were delivered before the Cremation Society of
Berlin. Berlin, 1874.

BERNARDINO BIONDELLI--_La Cremazione dei Cadaveri umani
esaminata._ Milano, 1874.

DR. FELICE DELL' ACQUA--_La Cremazione dei Cadaveri._ Milano,
April 1874.

DR. D. PIETRA SANTA--_La Crémation des Morts en France et à
l'Étranger._

DR. MANTEGAZZA--'Cremazione dei Cadaveri,' in the _Nuova
Antologia_. Firenze, September 1874.

REV. H. R. HAWEIS--_Ashes to Ashes. A Cremation Prelude._
London, 1874.

INDEX.

Apparatus, cost of best modern, 113

-- inoffensiveness of the modern, 106, 112, 114

Ashes, depositing in churches, 16, 124

-- -- in urns, 119

-- interment of, 16, 36, 123

-- time necessary for reduction to, 115

-- weight of, 115

Burials, crowded, 41, 67

-- dangers of, 6, 18, 53

-- depths of, 46

-- in caves, 5, 29

-- in vaults, 47, 59

-- near habitations, 44, 54

Burial-grounds, inundations of, 48, 63, 65

-- -- draining of, 48

-- -- old, 50

Burial laws, 41

Cattle, burial of, 63

Cemeteries, 43, 47

-- conveyance to distant, 80

Churchyards, closing of, 50, 80

Churchyard vapours, 54, 58, 60

Coffins, 52

Columbaria, 16, 75, 124

Common graves during epidemics, 6

Cost of modern system of cremation, 114

-- -- old systems, 91, 100

Cremation and burial practised together, 5, 9, 11, 70

-- -- medical science, 23

-- amongst ancient peoples, 4, 11, 19, 35

-- during epidemics, 6

-- half-and-half schemes of, 40, 64, 76

-- in America, 83

-- in Austria, 79

-- in battlefields, 18

-- in Belgium, 78

-- in England, 85

-- in France, 75

-- in Germany, 82

-- in India, 11, 35, 36, 91

-- in Italy, 68

-- in modern times, 19, 36, 38, 82, 84

-- in North America, 37, 101

-- in Siam, 98

-- in Switzerland, 73

-- judicious promotion of, 125

-- late experiments on, 82, 90, 97, 102, 106, 113, 115

-- modern approved processes, 109, 117

-- not opposed to the doctrine of the resurrection, 8, 12, 74

-- objections to old systems of, 90, 97

-- of condemned food, &c., 22

-- of diseased human dead, 68

Cremation of diseased, cattle, 21

-- of offensive matters, 22

-- societies, 73, 81, 82, 83, 86

-- time occupied by, 115

Dangers of burial, 6, 18, 53

-- -- opening up old burial-grounds, 6

Dead, burial in caves, 29

-- -- in solid materials, 27

-- -- in the earth, 11, 30

-- drying up of the, 29, 34

-- embalming of the, 31, 36, 37, 76, 100, 116

-- exposure of the, 24

-- petrifaction of the, 27

Diseases caused by churchyards, &c., 56

Family graves, 45

Family receptacles for ashes, 16, 99

Graveyards, draining of, 48

-- old, 50

Interment of the ashes, 16, 36, 123

Injudicious promoters of cremation, 2

Judicious promotion of cremation, 125

Laws relating to burial, 41

Mortuary chapel for cremation, 105-118

Objections to cremation, 5, 13, 15

Parkes, Dr., quoted, 53, 59

Poetry upon cremation, 14

Poisoning of the living, 56

-- -- water supplies, 51

Sanitary origin of cremation, 8

Siemens' cremation apparatus, 105, 109

Sir Henry Thompson on cremation, 23, 77, 85, 106, 114

Time occupied by cremation, 115

Urns, &c., 119

Vaults, burial in, 47, 59

Water-supply, poisoning of, 51

Weight of ashes, 115

Works upon burial, 42, 89

-- -- cremation, 127

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PLATE I.