Pyre

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A pyre is a structure, such as a mound of wood, for burning a body as part of a funeral rite. A form of cremation, a body or bodies is placed upon the pyre and the pyre is set on fire. In a Viking funeral the pyre was built on a ship, which was then floated out to sea as it burned. Traditionally, pyres are used for the cremation of the deceased in Hinduism. Pyres are uncommon in the Western world in modern times and have been replaced by indoor cremation in a crematorium.


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