Posted on 09/03/2009 7:01:42 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
In underground passageways that snake underneath the French capital, nearly six million people who died of disease in the Middle Ages share a final resting place.
The vaults, packed with skulls and bones dating from as far back as the Middle Ages, are located on Paris' Left Bank near Place Denfert Rochereau... and are part of the nearly 185 miles of underground passageways that are believed to be part of the catacombs network.
...John Mamburg, tourist from Grand Rapids, Michigan: "I think this is astounding. I've never been around so many, like you've been to cemeteries and things like that, I've never been to anything that is so insanely dense in death. It's amazing."
The catacombs have their origin in the late eighteenth century, when city officials were searching for a solution to health problems caused by the city's overflowing cemeteries. The 200 or so cemeteries located in Paris at the time were the source of numerous diseases which were contaminating the city's soil and water supply. The then Lieutenant General of Police, Alexandre Lenoir (len-waar), suggested that the bones from the cemeteries would be transferred underground into the abandoned gypsum and limestone quarries at the southern edge of the city.
...After snaking through these eerie, dark and moist passageways stacked with skulls, visitors will no doubt view the splendor of Paris in a different light.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.nationalgeographic.com ...
Thanks Prodigal Son!
[’Civ cues Rev. Robert Wilkins]
Y’know, considering how they’ve been getting their asses handed to them steadily since Napoleon figured it would be a good idea to invade Russia, and the odd plague here and there, the French must have (at one time, not now of course) bred like rabbits. :’)
I’m not too sure I have any French ancestors, apart from the possibility of my last surname ancestor multi-great-grandma to die in the Old World — no record of her maiden name, which isn’t that uncommon to find in genealogy, but her first name is beguilingly foreign sounding.
I think the survivors had a weird sense of humor. :’)
Sorry grellis, I neglected to explain my earlier ping — the article mentions “John Mamburg, tourist from Grand Rapids, Michigan”. :’)
I’ll stick to claquettes at a cafe in the Montmarte, no offense meant to the honored dead.
I saw that. It was an interesting article. I’ve always wanted to see the Parisian catacombs—I find graveyards, tombs, etc fascinating.
Nobility, eh? :’)
Unfortunately, yes. From way back when...not only all of “European,” but even some from Egypt and other warm places.
What I’d like to know is why I wasn’t close enough to even get a dinner!!
Hey, you wouldn’t be living in the US (or maybe at all) if somethin’ hadn’t happened the way it did. :’)
That’s a fac’, JACK!
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