[225] Lersch, § 86, comp. Arnob. 7. 51, “Pulticulae, tura cum carnibus, rapacium alimenta sunt ignium et parentalibus coniunctissima mortuorum,” Tac. A. 3. 2, “Pro opibus loci vestem, odores, aliaque funerum sollemnia cremabant.” The first passage explains ‘dapes,’ which doubtless refers to the victims, not, as some have thought, to the spices and oil. So perhaps 3. 301, where see note. In 5. 92 the reference is doubtful. For the application of ‘dapes’ to sacrifices see Forc. Victims are also mentioned 11. 197 foll., after Il. 23. 166, Od. 24. 65, none of which passages however speak of spices or oil. Libations of oil were made in the subsequent offerings to the grave (E. 5. 68 note: see other passages quoted by Lersch, § 68, “De Libationibus”), which seem to have had much in common with the actual funeral solemnities. See also Od. 24. 73, referred to on v. 227 below. ‘Fuso crateres olivo’ is doubtless the abl. of description, cups of poured out oil. Really of course it is not the cup that is burnt, but its contents, so that ‘crateres’ is used somewhat like “pocula” E. 8. 28.
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John Conington. P. Vergili Maronis opera. P. Vergili Maronis Opera. The works of Virgil, with a Commentary by John Conington, M.A. Late Corpus Professor of Latin in the University of Oxford. London. Whittaker and Co., Ave Maria Lane. 1876.
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