Dakhma (Dahkma) Tower of Silence in Zoroastrian funeral rites, where the bodies of the dead are left to be eaten by vultures. A corpse is regarded as unclean and therefore not fit to be buried in the earth, which it would defile, or burned in fire, which would also be defiled.

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Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, Third Edition – Written by Anthony S. Mercatante & James R. Dow– Copyright © 2009 by Anthony S. Mercatante