Who typically carried out the Roman funeral?

In ancient Rome, funerals were primarily the responsibility of public officials and paid secular functionaries. This practice stemmed from the Roman cultural emphasis on the proper observance of civic duties and rituals associated with death. Funeral rituals were important to maintain social order and reflect the deceased's social status.

Paid functionaries, such as the "libitinarii," were responsible for the logistics of the funeral, including preparation of the body and conducting the funeral rites. They were often hired for their expertise and knowledge of the necessary customs and practices to ensure that the deceased received a proper send-off.

Family members did have an emotional role and were involved in the mourning process, but the formal aspects of the funeral and the physical handling of the body were generally managed by these specialized workers. This division of labor reflected the Roman respect for professional roles within their society, especially regarding matters as significant as death.

Clerical authorities were not central to Roman funerals in the same way they might be in other religious traditions, as Rome had a polytheistic belief system, where rituals were often conducted by secular authorities. Similarly, while embalmers played a role in specific cultures, their practice was not a defining characteristic of Roman funerals; the emphasis was more on