I was watching the Discovery Channel the other night and there was a program about sepulchers. I didn’t know what a sepulcher was. Turns out it’s an old-timey word for a tomb or place of burial. It often describes tombs carved out of rock or built from stone. According to my extensive research, when the word “sepulcher” is used, it’s usually in reference to the tomb in which Jesus was laid to rest — a sepulcher near Calvary. His generally accepted place of burial is commemorated by the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which was dedicated in the 4th century and has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. It is now visited by thousands of tourists every year.
But anyhow, this might be a good time to talk about final resting places…..
A lot of years ago, people had to make decisions on tombs and crypts that make todays decisions about urns or whether to choose a cherry casket or pine box seem pretty straightforward.
A tomb can be something as simple as a hole in the ground, but it typically refers to a structure or vault for internment below or above ground. It can also mean a memorial shrine above a grave. In the Middle Ages, Christian tombs became breathtaking structures that sometimes saw entire churches built over the graves of departed dignitaries. For example, in 1066, King Edward the Confessor was entombed in front of the high alter at Westminster Abbey in Great Britain.
A crypt is a specific type of tomb, usually a vault or chamber built beneath a church. Outstanding servants of a particular church — bishops, for example, or extremely loyal parishioners — are often buried in the crypt underneath. Centuries ago in Europe, these vast burial chambers also served as meeting places.
Sarcophagus, another term that I wasn’t familiar with, usually refers to an elaborate casket that isn’t sunk into the ground. The oldest are from Egypt — box-shaped with separate lids. The later Egyptian sarcophagi were often shaped like the body. The most famous sarcophagus holds Egypt’s King Tut. It was discovered in 1922 and is made of quartzite and has reliefs of goddesses carved into the sides. It also has a heavy granite lid.
But today, most people are buried in the ground with a simple headstone. I guess by the time all the bills are paid, there usually isn’t enough money left to for a King Tut style burial.
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