Why did ancient Romans and Greeks hire professional mourners?

Ancient Romans and Greeks hired professional mourners primarily due to the belief that the emotions expressed during mourning rituals were significant for honoring the deceased and appeasing their spirit. There was a cultural and religious notion that if the mourners did not display adequate emotion, it could provoke jealousy or anger in the dead, potentially resulting in negative repercussions for the living. Therefore, the presence of professional mourners, who were skilled in expressing grief, served both a social and a spiritual function, reinforcing the idea that proper displays of sorrow were essential in helping to guide the deceased's soul peacefully to the afterlife. This practice emphasized the cultural value placed on communal mourning and the need for an outward demonstration of grief.