289 Items Tagged

Tombs

Which States Have the Most Dead Presidents?

The answer reveals grave robbing problems for America’s deceased leaders.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think October 20, 2023

By the New Kingdom (1550-1069 BC), both royals and non-royals were buried with dozens of figurines known as shabti, which would serve them in the afterlife.

In Ancient Egypt, Human Sacrifice and Shabti Figures Ensured an Afterlife of Servitude

Clay figurines and murdered retainers provided plenty of company—and a workforce—for the dead.

Nicky Nielsen October 17, 2023

Bournemouth, England

Mary Shelley's Grave

The author of Frankenstein is buried here, along with her parents and the heart of her husband, the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.

Elaborately inscribed false doors in tombs of the elite allowed family and friends to leave offerings that ensured the dead would want for nothing in the afterlife.

In Ancient Egypt, Soul Houses and False Doors Connected the Living and the Dead

Rich or poor, you could reach out to friends and family in the afterlife—and communication went both ways.

Nicky Nielsen October 10, 2023

If the bones aren’t taken care of correctly, the spirit could put a curse on the family.

Meet the Man Who Digs Up Graves to Lift Curses

Families hire a bone collector in Taiwan to fix problematic tombs—and sometimes deal with ghosts.

Clarissa Wei October 5, 2023

Each night during his journey across the netherworld, the sun god Ra's barque crosses the desert Rostau, realm of the falcon god Sokar, borne by snakes.

In Ancient Egypt, the Duat Was a Netherworld of Gods and Monsters

A guide called the Amduat helped pharaohs navigate the complex afterlife.

Nicky Nielsen October 3, 2023

Suribachiyama Tumulus

Unbeknownst to many, an ancient burial mound hides in plain sight in Ueno Park.

Brooklyn, New York

Grave of Governor DeWitt Clinton

The Father of the Erie Canal has a magnificent grave marker that redefines the term "final resting place."

The limestone canopic jars of lady Senetnay featured lids shaped like human heads. Two jars are kept at the Museum August Kestner in Hanover, Germany.

Get a Whiff of Ancient Egypt’s 'Scent of Eternity'

Experts reconstructed the smell of mummified organs—and it’s actually pretty pleasant.

Roxanne Hoorn September 14, 2023

Omar Khayyam Mausoleum

Neyshabur, Iran

Omar Khayyam Mausoleum

The beautifully designed resting place of Iran's national poet is a masterpiece of modern Persian architecture.

Delft, Netherlands

Vermeer's Grave

The grave of the famous painter is marked by a simple stone in the ground.

Guri-si, South Korea

Donggureung

The largest cluster of the Joseon dynasty’s royal tombs, home to the burial sites of 17 kings and queens.

The Old European Tombs

These fascinating 19th-century tombs in the center of Pune belong to Europeans who lived in the city in that era.

Tangier, Morocco

Tomb of Ibn Batutta

The tomb of one of the greatest travelers in history.

Burkhan Khaldun, Genghis Khan’s sacred mountain, in northeastern Mongolia, may hold his burial site.

Mongolia’s 'Forbidden Zone' Is Guarding an 800-Year-Old Secret

Is the vast Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area the final resting place of Genghis Khan?

Frank Jacobs, Big Think July 28, 2023

Tomb of the Wet Kimono

The birthplace of the Japanese idiom "wet clothes" meaning “false accusation."

Mausoleum of Nestor Kirchner

Río Gallegos, Argentina

Mausoleum of Nestor Kirchner

An imposing mausoleum that houses the remains of the former Argentinian president.

Combs, Arkansas

False Crypts of Brashears Cemetery

There are no bodies inside these stone coffins. And there never were.