after the body was carried to the cemetery, a sacrifice was performed in the presence of the corpse. until the time of cicero, it was customary to offer a sow to ceres, a sow also being a characteristic offering to chthonic deities. the sacrificial victim was then allotted for consumption among the participants. the portion for the deceased was put on a spit and cremated with the body. ceres' portion was burned on an altar. the family ate the portion that was due the living. a family of lesser means offered a libation of wine, incense, produce or grain; the allocation of these offerings is not recorded. after this apportioning, the deceased had transitioned and could no longer share in the meals of the living and the domestic gods; they now partook of what was appropriate for the spirits of the dead, the manes.