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κατ᾽ ὦν ἐπλάσατο: cf. 39. 2 n. The practice of mourners smearing themselves with mud is still found in Egypt; that of uncovering the upper part of the body, and ‘girding themselves up’ below the breasts, is seen on the monuments. Cf. for it Homer, Il. xxii. 80κόλπον ἀνιεμένη, ἑτέρηφι δὲ μαζὸν ἀνέσχεν” of Hecuba. Diodorus (i. 72) gives a similar account of the mourning for the Egyptian king. There are resemblances also in the burial ceremonies of the Spartan kings, which H. (vi. 58. 2) compares to those of barbarians in Asia.

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