In ancient funerary practices, what structure served to house multiple urns?

The structure that served to house multiple urns in ancient funerary practices is known as a columbarium. This type of building was designed to hold cremation urns, often arranged in niches or small alcoves that lined the walls of the structure. Columbaria provided a communal space for the interment of ashes and allowed families and communities to honor their deceased.

This practice was significant in Roman society, where cremation became common, and columbaria offered a respectful and organized method for handling the remains. The term "columbarium" is derived from the Latin word "columba," meaning dove, which reflects the resemblance of the niches to pigeonholes used for housing doves.

The other terms listed have different meanings in relation to funerary practices. For instance, conclamatio refers to the ritualistic calling of the deceased, often performed to confirm death. Ustina pertains to a place or an oven for cremation, while libitinarius means a person who handled funerary arrangements and the sale of burial goods. These concepts are integral to understanding ancient funerary customs, but they do not pertain specifically to the structure that housed urns.