Funus publicum

AbstractMost Roman funerals were conducted by the family of the deceased (funera privata), but among various funerary rites (Toynbee 1971: 43–61; Hopkins 1983: 201–26), afunus publicum(Toynbee 1971: 55–6) was an especially honorific funeral approved by the Senate (see Cic.Phil. 9.16–17; Wesch‐Klein 1993: 83–4), paid for by the quaestors from the state treasury, and conducted by the consuls, as a mark of honor or respect for distinguished service to the state.Funera publicarecall the ceremonial pattern of aristocratic Roman funerals (see Polyb. 6.53) as well as spectacular aspects of Roman triumphs (Bodel 1999: 259–64). Although known earlier, public funerals increased in number in the later decades of the republic (Wesch‐Klein 1993: 11–15). Such funerals were public also in the sense that all citizens were invited, and the sons or family of deceased notables might supplement the activities with entertainments or distributions of food.