12/19/2002: Moonastery
 

http://cellar.org/2002/moonastery.jpg

This is an old MSNBC image. I have a few of these saved up that I just flick in here once in a while because they're great photographs.

This one shows the big ol' moon rising over what is described as the golden domes of the Orthodox Monastery of the Caves in Kiev.

There, it's known as the "Pechersky Lavra", built in the 11th century and the largest monastery since then. But here's why it's called the Monastery of the Caves: there are multiple networks of underground caves beneath it. These caves contain, amongst other things... dead people. The mummified bodies of more than 100 monks. As well as six subterranean churches. Wild.

Rome's "Capuchin Crypt"
 

In downtown Rome, on Via Veneto very close to the US Embassy, is Santa Maria della Concezione. Beneath it is what is commonly called the Capuchin Crypt.

It contains the bones of hundreds of long-dead Capuchin monks, "artfully" arranged into sculptures and other sorts of designs in 4 or 5 rooms.

It is macabre almost beyond description. I go there almost every time I'm in the city.

http://www.twenj.com/rometour4.htm#crypt

I've been to the place on Via Veneto (in fact our hotel was right up the street.)

There's a place in the Czech Republic, near Karlovy Vary, that is about 8 times as big and has a LOT more bones. It's not as creepy, somehow, though. Even the pyramid of skulls didn't seem all that weird. I think it had something to do with the light - it was a lot better lit than the place in Rome. I'd post a link to it if I could find anything.

sedlec ossuary?

~james

I visited the catacombs in Paris which also have rooms filled with old bones. It filled old tunnels under the subway and the workers who transported these skeletons here often placed them in interesting sculptures (like skulls in the shape of a heart). If you are interested in seeing what I am talking about, check out this site:

http://www.quovadimus.org/paris/cat/

more info on the ossuary. same info, different pictures for people like me who are morbidly fascinated by this.

~james

Yeah, that's it! Good catch!

Personally I think such caves are much better used by storing age worthy wines...

Or growing mushrooms.

Beautiful picture, by the way.