Homer
The Iliad (Book XXIV)
The Iliad; Book 24; Lines 756 - End.
Written by Homer, translated by A.T. Murray
The following online addition and annotation prepared by Issac Ward.
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So spake she wailing, and thereat the countless throng made moan. But the old man Priam spake among the folk, saying: “Bring wood now, ye men of Troy, unto the city, neither have ye anywise fear at heart of a cunning ambush of the Argives; for verily Achilles laid upon me this word when he sent me forth from the black ships, that he would do us no hurt until the twelfth dawn be come.”
So spake he, and they yoked oxen and mules to waggons, and speedily thereafter gathered together before the city. For nine days’ space they brought in measureless store of wood, but when the tenth Dawn arose, giving light unto mortals, then bare they forth bold Hector, shedding tears the while, and on the topmost pyre they laid the dead man, and cast fire thereon. But soon as early Dawn appeared, the rosy-fingered, then gathered the folk about the pyre of glorious Hector. And when they were assembled and met together, first they quenched with flaming wine all the pyre, so far as the fire’s might had come upon it, and thereafter his brethren and his comrades gathered the white bones, mourning, and big tears flowed ever down their cheeks. The bones they took and placed in a golden urn, covering them over with soft purple robes, and quickly laid the urn in a hollow grave, and covered it over with great close-set stones. Then with speed heaped they the mound, and round about were watchers set on every side, lest the well-greaved Achaeans should set upon them before the time. And when they had piled the barrow they went back, and gathering together duly feasted a glorious feast in the palace of Priam, the king fostered of Zeus.
On this wise held they funeral for horse-taming Hector.
Work Cited:
"Death, Burial, and the Afterlife in Ancient Greece." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2015.
Akmenkalns, Jessika. "Burial Customs in Ancient Greece." Burial Customs. University of Colorado, n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2015.
Crabeen, Jan Van Der. "Tyrian Purple." Ancient History Encyclopedia. N.p., 30 Dec. 2010. Web. 16 Feb. 2015.
Lahanas, Michael. "Death and Funeral in Ancient Greece." Hellenica. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2015.
Mark, Joshua J. "Burial." Ancient History Encyclopedia. N.p., 2 Sept. 2009. Web. 16 Feb. 2015.
Wheeler, L. K. "Epithets." Epithets. Carson-Newman University, 5 Nov. 2014. Web. 18 Feb. 2015.