What were Pollinctores in ancient Rome?

Pollinctores in ancient Rome were specialized professionals involved in the preparation of the deceased for burial, specifically through the practice of embalming. Their role was significant in the funeral process, as they were responsible for the application of oils and other substances that might have been used to preserve the body and prepare it for its final rites.

This profession highlights the importance of body preservation in Roman funerary practices, which were deeply rooted in their cultural and religious beliefs regarding death and the afterlife. Pollinctores worked closely with other roles, such as funeral directors (though the formal role of a funeral director as understood today did not exist in ancient Rome), but their primary focus was on the physical preparation of the body.

The other choices refer to different aspects of religious or ceremonial roles in ancient Rome; priests served in various religious capacities, ceremonial leaders were involved in specific rituals, but it is the Pollinctores who were distinctively recognized for their embalming duties.