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A tumulus (plural tumuli) is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli also are known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgräber, or kurgans, and may be found throughout much of the world. A cairn, which is a mound of stones built for various purposes, might also originally have been a tumulus. Tumuli are often categorized according to their external apparent shape. In this respect, a long barrow is a long tumulus, usually constructed on top of several burials, such as passage graves. A round barrow is a round tumulus, also commonly constructed on top of burials. The internal structure and architecture of both long and round barrows has a broad range, the categorization only refers to the external apparent shape. The method of may involve a dolmen, a cist, a mortuary enclosure, a mortuary house, or a chamber tomb. Examples of barrows include Duggleby Howe and Maeshowe. The word ''tumulus'' is Latin for 'mound' or 'small hill', which is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *''teuh2-'' with extended zero grade *''tum-'', 'to bulge, swell' also found in ''tumor'', ''thumb'', ''thigh'', and ''thousand''.〔Calvert Watkins, ''American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots'', 2000, p. 92.〕 ==Tumulus burial accounts== The funeral of Patroclus is described in book 23 of the ''Iliad''. Patroclus is burned on a pyre, and his bones are collected into a golden urn in two layers of fat. The barrow is built on the location of the pyre. Achilles then sponsors funeral games, consisting of a chariot race, boxing, wrestling, running, a duel between two champions to the first blood, discus throwing, archery and spear throwing. Beowulf's body is taken to Hronesness, where it is burned on a funeral pyre. During cremation, the Geats lament the death of their lord, a widow's lament being mentioned in particular, singing dirges as they circumambulate the barrow. Afterwards, a mound is built on top of a hill, overlooking the sea, and filled with treasure. A band of twelve of the best warriors ride around the barrow, singing dirges in praise of their lord. Parallels have also been drawn to the account of Attila's burial in Jordanes' ''Getica''.〔Frederick Klaeber, ''Attila's and Beowulf's funeral'', PMLA (1927); Martin Puhvel, ''The Ride around Beowulf's Barrow'', Folklore (1983).〕 Jordanes tells that as Attila's body was lying in state, the best horsemen of the Huns circled it, as in circus games. An Old Irish ''Life of Columcille'' reports that every funeral procession "halted at a mound called Eala, whereupon the corpse was laid, and the mourners marched thrice solemnly round the spot." 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「tumulus」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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