(in the Imperial period also called funus censorium, Tac. Ann. 4,15,2 and passim) refers to a burial whose costs and organization was covered by the state or the community, to honour the deceased.
In early times, foreign delegates (Plut. Quaest. Rom. 43) as well as royalty imprisoned by Rome ( Syphax; Perseus, cf. Val. Max. 5,1,1) were buried publice (‘at public expense’). The funus publicum (FP) which became typical of prominent citizens probably did not emerge until the late Republic (certa…
Cite this page
Kierdorf, Wilhelm (Cologne),
“Funus publicum”, in:
Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry.
Consulted online on 22 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e416480>