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VIDEO: Paris Catacombs "Dense in Death"
National Geographic News ^ | August 25, 2009 | unattributed

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 ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: france; godsgravesglyphs
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To: Prodigal Son

Thanks Prodigal Son!

[’Civ cues Rev. Robert Wilkins]


21 posted on 09/04/2009 5:16:26 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: RDTF

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. :’)


22 posted on 09/04/2009 5:17:49 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: Monkey Face

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.


23 posted on 09/04/2009 5:19:56 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: JoeProBono

I think the survivors had a weird sense of humor. :’)


24 posted on 09/04/2009 5:20:29 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: grellis

Sorry grellis, I neglected to explain my earlier ping — the article mentions “John Mamburg, tourist from Grand Rapids, Michigan”. :’)


25 posted on 09/04/2009 5:22:33 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: SunkenCiv

I’ll stick to claquettes at a cafe in the Montmarte, no offense meant to the honored dead.


26 posted on 09/04/2009 5:24:12 PM PDT by P.O.E. (Fish rot from the head down.)
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To: SunkenCiv

I saw that. It was an interesting article. I’ve always wanted to see the Parisian catacombs—I find graveyards, tombs, etc fascinating.


27 posted on 09/04/2009 7:35:01 PM PDT by grellis (I am Jill's overwhelming sense of disgust.)
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To: grellis
Yeah, me too. Quiet, relaxing, fascinating places.
The Marcus Brown Pyramid mauseoleum - Oakhill Cemetery, Grand Rapids, MI

28 posted on 09/04/2009 8:32:22 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: SunkenCiv
My French ancestors were all buried in mausoleums. Or chapels.
29 posted on 09/05/2009 6:31:22 AM PDT by Monkey Face (I wear a yellow ribbon for ForgotenKnight, my army hero grandson.)
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To: Monkey Face

Nobility, eh? :’)


30 posted on 09/05/2009 7:52:58 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: SunkenCiv

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!!


31 posted on 09/05/2009 10:03:36 AM PDT by Monkey Face (I wear a yellow ribbon for ForgotenKnight, my army hero grandson.)
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To: Monkey Face

Hey, you wouldn’t be living in the US (or maybe at all) if somethin’ hadn’t happened the way it did. :’)


32 posted on 09/06/2009 7:08:14 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: SunkenCiv

That’s a fac’, JACK!


33 posted on 09/07/2009 6:25:56 AM PDT by Monkey Face (I wear a yellow ribbon for ForgotenKnight, my army hero grandson.)
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