It would be torture, indeed, if he were sensible; but as he is not, it can be none; then how very unmeaning is this: Let him, still hovering o'er the Stygian wave, Ne'er reach the body's peaceful port, the grave! You see under what mistaken notions all this is said.

He imagines the body has its haven, and that the dead are at rest in their graves.
Pelops was greatly to blame in not having informed and taught his son what regard was due to everything.
XLV.

But what occasion is there to animadvert on the opinions of individuals, when we may observe whole nations to fall into all sorts of errors?
The Egyptians embalm their dead, and keep them in their houses; the Persians dress them over with wax, and then bury them, that they may preserve their bodies as long as possible.

It is customary with the Magi to bury none of their order, unless they have been first torn by wild beasts.

In Hyrcania, the people maintain dogs for the public use; the nobles have their own--and we know that they have a good breed of dogs; but every one, according to his ability, provides himself with some, in order to be torn by them; and they hold that to be the best kind of interment.