Detritivores – the ultimate recyclers
These marvelous morsels of nature’s cleanup crew are the ultimate recyclers, turning yesterday’s trash into tomorrow’s treasure. Let’s dive into the delightfully dirty world of detritus dining! Imagine a world…
The Goldfinch in art
The goldfinch is a widespread and common seed-eating bird in Europe, North Africa, and western and central Asia. As a colourful species with a pleasant twittering song, and an associated belief…
Catacombs of SaintĀ Gaudiosus
Are you ready for a journey into the macabre underbelly of Naples? Welcome to the Catacombs of San Gaudioso, where the dead don’t just rest – they put on a…
Manes or Di Manes
In ancient Roman religion, the Manes or Di Manes are chthonic deities sometimes thought to represent souls of deceased loved ones. They were associated with the Lares, Lemures, Genii, and Di Penates as deities (di) that pertained to domestic, local, and…
Keres, bloodthirsty death spirits in Greek Mythology
InĀ Greek mythology, theĀ KeresĀ (/ĖkÉŖriĖz/;Ā Ancient Greek: ĪįæĻĪµĻ), singularĀ KerĀ (/ĖkÉr/; ĪĪ®Ļ), were female death-spirits. They were the goddesses who personified violent death and who were drawn to bloody deaths on battlefields.Ā Although they were present…
AĀ columbarium is a structure for the reverential and usually public storage ofĀ funerary urnsĀ holdingĀ cremainsĀ of the dead
AĀ columbariumĀ (pl.Ā columbaria) is a structure for the reverential and usually public storage ofĀ funerary urnsĀ holdingĀ cremainsĀ of the dead. The term comes from theĀ LatinĀ columbaĀ (dove) and originally solely referred to compartmentalized housing for doves and…
AĀ tzompantliĀ orĀ skull rackĀ was used for the public display ofĀ human skulls, typically ofĀ war captivesĀ or sacrificial victims
AĀ tzompantliĀ (Nahuatl pronunciation:Ā [tĶ”somĖpantĶ”ɬi]) orĀ skull rackĀ was a type of wooden rack or palisade documented in severalĀ MesoamericanĀ civilizations, which was used for the public display ofĀ human skulls, typically those ofĀ war captivesĀ or otherĀ sacrificial victims. It…
Brno Ossuary holds the remains of over 50 thousand people
Brno OssuaryĀ is an undergroundĀ ossuaryĀ inĀ Brno,Ā Czech Republic. It was rediscovered in 2001 in the historical centre of the city, partially under theĀ Church of St. James.Ā It is estimated that the ossuary holds the…
San Bernardino alle Ossa, Milan
San Bernardino alle Ossa is a church in Milan, northern Italy, best known for its ossuary, a small side chapel decorated with numerous human skulls and bones. In 1210, when an adjacent cemetery…
Catacombs of Lima, Peru
TheĀ Catacombs of LimaĀ (Spanish:Ā Catacumbas de Lima) are undergroundĀ ossuariesĀ in theĀ historic centreĀ ofĀ Lima,Ā Peru. TheĀ catacombsĀ were built under theĀ Basilica and Convent of San FranciscoĀ and currently function as aĀ museum. History In 1546, theĀ Franciscan orderĀ began construction of theĀ Basilica…
Jade burial suit
AĀ jade burial suitĀ (Chinese:Ā ēč”£;Ā pinyin:Ā yĆ¹ yÄ«;Ā lit.Ā ‘jade clothing’) is a ceremonial suit made of pieces ofĀ jadeĀ in which royal members inĀ Han dynastyĀ China were buried. Construction Of the jade suits that have been found, the…
AnĀ arcosolium is an arched recess used as a place of entombment
AnĀ arcosolium, pluralĀ arcosolia, is an arched recess used as a place of entombment. The word is from LatinĀ arcus, “arch”, andĀ solium, “throne” (literally “place of state”) or post-classical “sarcophagus“.[dubiousĀ āĀ discuss] Early arcosolia were carved…
