--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Three old men with moon-silver hair and…" description: "\"“Three old men with moon-silver hair and slow, ponderous movement took him in their arms and laid him on a marble slab and set silver coins on his eyes..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4de/m-c-scott-17388_ancient-rome_three-old-men-with-moon-silver-hair-and_675635.jpg" --- # Three old men with moon-silver hair and slow, ponderous… ![“Three old men with moon-silver hair and slow, ponderous movement took him in their arms and laid him on a marble slab and set silver coins on his eyes and swung incense over him, murmuring as priests do to fill what might otherwise be a god-sent silence.” quote by M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4de/m-c-scott-17388_ancient-rome_three-old-men-with-moon-silver-hair-and_675635.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4de/m-c-scott-17388_ancient-rome_three-old-men-with-moon-silver-hair-and_675635.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4de/m-c-scott-17388_ancient-rome_three-old-men-with-moon-silver-hair-and_675635.jpg) > ““Three old men with moon-silver hair and slow, ponderous movement took him in their arms and laid him on a marble slab and set silver coins on his eyes and swung incense over him, murmuring as priests do to fill what might otherwise be a god-sent silence.”” [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A solemn ritual of mourning, where mourners honor the dead with symbolic gestures and prayers, attempting to fill the silence left by loss. **In simple terms:** Mourners perform rites to honor the dead and ease silence. Key Takeaway Respect the dead with thoughtful ceremony. Themes mourning ritual silence honor Mood somber reflective Type ceremonial poetic When to use this quote - funeral services - memorials - personal loss - cultural ceremonies Key Concepts symbolism spirituality cultural practice Questions to Reflect On - How do you honor those who have passed? - What symbols bring comfort in mourning? A Different Perspective Rituals may not ease grief for everyone; cultural differences affect meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient rome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient-rome/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Old men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-men/) ## Related quotes > [“the murmuring priests”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-revell/the-murmuring-priests/) [Donald Revell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-revell/) > [“I am here to tell you that the Pope has no power to loose souls from purgatory because there is no purgatory. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kyle/i-am-here-to-tell-you-that-the-pope-has-no-power-to-loose-souls-from/) [Barbara Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kyle/) > [The highest service that men may attain to on earth is to preach the word of God. This service falls peculiarly to priests, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wycliffe/the-highest-service-that-men-may-attain-to-on-earth-is-to-preach-the/) [John Wycliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wycliffe/) > [ “Blessed and holy \[is\] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaines-johnson/blessed-and-holy-is-he-that-hath-part-in-the-first-resurrection-on/) Gaines Johnson > [The Jacksonians were not monetary nationalists; specie was specie, and they saw no reason that foreign gold or silver coins should not circulate with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/the-jacksonians-were-not-monetary-nationalists-specie-was-specie-and/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [I see a great future for gold and silver coins as the currency people may increasingly turn to when paper currencies begin to disintegrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/i-see-a-great-future-for-gold-and-silver-coins-as-the-currency-people/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [It means that the silver coins of the United States at whatever ratio is fixed, and I want the present ratio that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-parks-bland/it-means-that-the-silver-coins-of-the-united-states-at-whatever-ratio/) [Richard Parks Bland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-parks-bland/) > [From the inception of our nation our American ancestors intended for the United States to operate under a precious-metals monetary system or, more specifically,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-g-hornberger/from-the-inception-of-our-nation-our-american-ancestors-intended-for/) [Jacob G. Hornberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-g-hornberger/) > [If anybody has any idea of hoarding our silver coins, let me say this. Treasury has a lot of silver on hand, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/if-anybody-has-any-idea-of-hoarding-our-silver-coins-let-me-say-this/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [“We broke camp together and set off in our opposite directions: we of the XIIth and our allies marched east, towards the rising sun,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/we-broke-camp-together-and-set-off-in-our-opposite-directions-we-of/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [“So we left the spear in the wagon and I dressed and still was not sick and together we walked to the head of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/so-we-left-the-spear-in-the-wagon-and-i-dressed-and-still-was-not/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [“He bared thick teeth. ‘I am Zacchariah. My price will be right. You show me now?’ In that moment, ten generations of horse-traders counted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/he-bared-thick-teeth-i-am-zacchariah-my-price-will-be-right-you-show/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [“Tell me we’re not going to be stoking up the cook fires to build palisades through the night by their light.’ I stood, turning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/tell-me-we-re-not-going-to-be-stoking-up-the-cook-fires-to-build/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [“It would have been easy to ask, then, ‘What of this Eagle?’, to have wheedled out of them all they knew: where it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/it-would-have-been-easy-to-ask-then-what-of-this-eagle-to-have/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [“Governor Paetus...’ Lupus closed his eyes that we might not read the rage in them. ‘Governor Paetus has informed us that he will return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/governor-paetus-lupus-closed-his-eyes-that-we-might-not-read-the-rage/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) ## More by M.C. Scott > [“Governor Paetus...’ Lupus closed his eyes that we might not read the rage in them. ‘Governor Paetus has informed us that he will return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/governor-paetus-lupus-closed-his-eyes-that-we-might-not-read-the-rage/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [“It would have been easy to ask, then, ‘What of this Eagle?’, to have wheedled out of them all they knew: where it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/it-would-have-been-easy-to-ask-then-what-of-this-eagle-to-have/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [“The dying go so swiftly at the end. Always the speed of their leaving catches me unawares; so much left to say, to promise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/the-dying-go-so-swiftly-at-the-end-always-the-speed-of-their-leaving/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [“Tell me we’re not going to be stoking up the cook fires to build palisades through the night by their light.’ I stood, turning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/tell-me-we-re-not-going-to-be-stoking-up-the-cook-fires-to-build/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [“He bared thick teeth. ‘I am Zacchariah. My price will be right. You show me now?’ In that moment, ten generations of horse-traders counted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/he-bared-thick-teeth-i-am-zacchariah-my-price-will-be-right-you-show/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [“The mare on which the traitor had been seated at the time of his death was, obviously, no longer considered the best horse in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/the-mare-on-which-the-traitor-had-been-seated-at-the-time-of-his/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [“So we left the spear in the wagon and I dressed and still was not sick and together we walked to the head of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/so-we-left-the-spear-in-the-wagon-and-i-dressed-and-still-was-not/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [“We broke camp together and set off in our opposite directions: we of the XIIth and our allies marched east, towards the rising sun,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/we-broke-camp-together-and-set-off-in-our-opposite-directions-we-of/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [“He is wounded, but he is still the Leopard, still dangerous. His eyes look through you, until they don’t. That’s when he’ll kill you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/he-is-wounded-but-he-is-still-the-leopard-still-dangerous-his-eyes/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [“What of honour? What of courage? What of all the things that bind the legions together?’ He gave a shrug and a nod together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/what-of-honour-what-of-courage-what-of-all-the-things-that-bind-the/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [“The camp offices stood in the centre, adjoining the shrine to Jupiter that held the legion’s Eagle. In the camps of the Vth Macedonica…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/the-camp-offices-stood-in-the-centre-adjoining-the-shrine-to-jupiter/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [“Silvanus, the camp prefect, took a step forward. I heard his voice every morning after parade, but had never listened to the tones of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/silvanus-the-camp-prefect-took-a-step-forward-i-heard-his-voice-every/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [“In the centre of our line, eighty paces to my left, I felt Cadus raise his hand; I did not need to look. ‘Sound,’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/in-the-centre-of-our-line-eighty-paces-to-my-left-i-felt-cadus-raise/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [“I nursed that flame as if it were my only son, and all round the ram nineteen other men did likewise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/i-nursed-that-flame-as-if-it-were-my-only-son-and-all-round-the-ram/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [“Imagine Melitene, land of plenty, under snow and ice and high blue skies; imagine it in spring, with the meltwater running off the mountains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/imagine-melitene-land-of-plenty-under-snow-and-ice-and-high-blue/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) [Explore all 37 M.C. Scott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) ## More Ancient rome quotes > [“The truth is heavier than a sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naiyem-chowdhury-rony/the-truth-is-heavier-than-a-sword/) [Naiyem Chowdhury Rony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naiyem-chowdhury-rony/) > [“What you seem so unwilling to accept, even now, is this: that the ideals which supported the old Republic had no correspondence to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/what-you-seem-so-unwilling-to-accept-even-now-is-this-that-the-ideals/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [“Governor Paetus...’ Lupus closed his eyes that we might not read the rage in them. ‘Governor Paetus has informed us that he will return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-scott/governor-paetus-lupus-closed-his-eyes-that-we-might-not-read-the-rage/) [M.C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [“Cum dignitate otium”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/cum-dignitate-otium/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“When you fear nothing, you have nothing to fear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-f-chandler/when-you-fear-nothing-you-have-nothing-to-fear/) S.F. Chandler > [From food trucks to hot dog stands to county fair favorites, 'street food' has enjoyed a rich and storied history in American cuisine. 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Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [ “My tongue tasted like a gladiator's jockstrap \[Marcus Corvinus after a night out\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wishart/my-tongue-tasted-like-a-gladiator-s-jockstrap-marcus-corvinus-after-a/) David Wishart > [I write about times and places I would visit in a time machine, like ancient Rome or the Wild West.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lawrence/i-write-about-times-and-places-i-would-visit-in-a-time-machine-like/) [Caroline Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lawrence/) > [I was born in England and went to school there. That's when I discovered my undying passion for history - not just for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-henley/i-was-born-in-england-and-went-to-school-there-that-s-when-i/) [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) > [“The fervor and single-mindedness of this deification probably have no precedent in history. It's not like Duvalier or Assad passing the torch to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-fervor-and-single-mindedness-of-this-deification-probably-have-no/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) [Browse all 142 Ancient rome quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient-rome/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Three old men with moon-silver hair and slow, ponderous movement took him in their arms and laid him on a marble slab and set silver coins on his eyes and swung incense over him, murmuring as priests do to fill what might otherwise be a god-sent silence.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.C. 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