Do you know of armies burning their dead enemies in great pyres?

Question

This happens in The Lord of the Rings when Eomer and a company of men defeat and kill orcs and uruk-hai in Rohan. After that they burn the bodies in a great pile with one orc head speared on a stake. any ideas of this happening historically? especially in medieval times.

Answer 1

Um...the burning of dead foes was mainly used for scare tactics in the middle ages. If and when it did occur is question to debate. Burning in general in that time period was used mainly for persicutionary purposes. For example Friday the 13th. The Knights Templar in France were condemed as heritics and all were burned at the stake.
Further back in antiquity, the Romans burned their fallen soliders on pyers. However, it was the Greeks whom placed the coins on the eyes of the fallen man not the Romans. Well I hope this has been somewhat helpful.

Answer 2

I think that often it was easiest historically to burn the dead enemies then to bury them all. It would also prevent disease. The Rohan culture in LOR is based on Scandinavian culture and they were big into burning the dead back in the old days, as were the Celts and Saxons.

Answer 3

In the medieval times they were real big in torture and burning was a big deal, just think of the burnings at the steak for what ever reasons, that is how the punish one another.

Answer 4

I know in Roman times they would build a tower of wood and place a hero or great warrior on top, sent coins in their eyes (to pay the guardian of the river of the underworld) and then burn them. not sure about enemies

Answer 5

Bin Laden had a go at it, didn't he? Two huge pyres to be exact!
Seriously, it just shows what a vile book LOTR is for teaching people to dehumanise their enemy.