He that looks for urns and old sepulchral relicks, must…
““He that looks for urns and old sepulchral relicks, must not seek them in the ruins of temples, where no religion anciently placed them. These were found in a field, according to ancient custom, in noble or private burial; the old practice of the Canaanites, the family of Abraham, and the burying-place of Joshua, in the borders of his possessions; and also agreeable unto Roman practice to bury by highways, whereby their monuments were under eye:--memorials of themselves, and mementoes of mortality unto living passengers; whom the epitaphs of great ones were fain to beg to stay and look upon them,--a language though sometimes used, not so proper in church inscriptions.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage warns against seeking ancient burial practices in sacred ruins, noting that such customs were performed elsewhere and often displayed publicly as reminders of mortality.
In simple terms: Avoid looking for old burial rites in holy sites; they were placed elsewhere as public reminders of death.
Key Takeaway
Respect context of historical customs.
Themes
history
archaeology
mortality
Mood
thoughtful
academic
Type
historical
educational
When to use this quote
- researching ancient practices
- visiting historic sites
- interpreting monuments
Key Concepts
cultural heritage
memorialization
Questions to Reflect On
- What can we learn from ancient burial customs?
- How should we honor past practices today?
A Different Perspective
Modern sensibilities may view such displays as disrespectful.