Note 39 — ESSAYS.
Reading edition
I say the re-opening, because it appears that at some former time or times, now forgotten, the sepulchres have been searched for the precious metals which, in the form of ornaments of various kinds, were buried with their owners. Some of the tombs remaining open served as refuge for robbers, for sheep-pens, &c. See Tiraboschi as above, also Micali.