jjares reviewed The Catacombs of Paris: The History of the City?s Underground Ossuaries and Burial Network on + 3299 more book reviews
This is a fascinating study of burials in European history. I had no idea that in olden times, a large grave was dug and multiple bodies were placed in the hole before (it was eventually) closed. It was a real problem in Paris because a large number of people lived in a smallish land area. I was so interested in this unique situation in Paris that I tried to find more info about whether this was the norm or because of ignorance (that open pits with human remains caused illness in living persons and animals).
Frankly, the whole story is bizarre. The norm in Paris seemed to be to leave open pits with large numbers of bodies moldering near places where living persons tried to live. They tried to change things until the French Revolution, which added greatly to the numbers of bodies, without solving how and where to bury them.
I was horrified to see that during the Revolution, people disinterred kings and aristocrat's bodies, looted them and dumped their remains in open pits. Obviously, civil morality was at a low ebb. This is a fascinating story; I still can't believe some of it. The color photos added a great deal to the story.
Frankly, the whole story is bizarre. The norm in Paris seemed to be to leave open pits with large numbers of bodies moldering near places where living persons tried to live. They tried to change things until the French Revolution, which added greatly to the numbers of bodies, without solving how and where to bury them.
I was horrified to see that during the Revolution, people disinterred kings and aristocrat's bodies, looted them and dumped their remains in open pits. Obviously, civil morality was at a low ebb. This is a fascinating story; I still can't believe some of it. The color photos added a great deal to the story.
