Difference between revisions of "Catacomb" - New World Encyclopedia

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[[Category:Politics and social sciences]]
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[[Category:Anthropology]]
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[[Image:Paris catacombes.jpg|thumb|Catacombs Paris]]
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[[Image:Catacombe_1.jpg|thumb|Catacombs [[Rome]] - entrance]]
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[[Image:Catacombe_2.jpg|thumb|Catacombs [[Rome]] - entrance (detail)]]
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[[Image:Lima_Convento_San_Fransisco_Catacombs.jpg|thumb|Catacombs [[Lima]]. Convento de San Fransisco]]
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The original '''catacombs'''<ref>The derivation is the [[Latin]] ''catacumbæ'', from the phrase ''caca tombs'' (''among the tombs''), through metathesis and with attraction of ''-cumbere'' (''to lie''), from Greek ''κατα'' (''down'') and ultimately from Greek ''τυμβος'' (''tomb'') (1).  From ''Chambers Dictionary of Etymology'', Chambers (New York), 1988, ISBN 0-550-14230-4, see ''catacomb'' and ''tomb.''</ref> are a network of underground burial galleries near [[San Sebastiano fuori le mura]], in [[Rome]]. The word now refers to any network of [[cave]]s, grottos, or subterranean place that is used for the burial of the [[dead]], or it can refer to a specific underground burial place.
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Famous examples are:
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*[[Catacombs of Rome]] in [[Rome|Italy]]
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*[[Catacombs of Paris]] in [[Paris, France|France]]
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*[[Catacombs of Kom el Shuqafa]] (or ''Kom al Sukkfa'') in [[Alexandria, Egypt]]
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*[[Catacombs of Malta]] on the [[Mediterranean]] island of [[Malta]]
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*Catacombs of [[Sacromonte]] in [[Granada]], Spain.
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*[[Capuchin catacombs of Palermo]], Italy.
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*[[Catacombs of Lima]] in [[Peru]].
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* Catacombs under [[St. Stephen's cathedral]] in [[Vienna]].
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There are also catacomb-like burial chambers in [[Anatolia]], [[Turkey]]; in [[Susa]], North Africa; in [[Naples, Italy]]; in [[Syracuse, Italy|Syracuse]], [[Italy]]; [[Trier]], [[Germany]]; [[Kiev]], [[Ukraine]]. [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin|Capuchin]] catacombs of [[Palermo, Sicily]] were used as late as [[1920s]].
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In [[Ukraine]] and [[Russia]], catacomb (used in the local languages' plural '''''katakomby''''') also refers to the network of abandoned caves and [[tunnel]]s earlier used to mine stone, especially [[limestone]]. Such catacombs are situated in [[Crimea]] and the [[Black Sea]] coast of these two countries. The most famous are catacombs beneath [[Odessa]] and Ajimushkay, Crimea, Ukraine. In the early days of Christianity, believers conducted secret worship services in these burial caves for safety and reverence for the dead. Later, they served as bases for [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[World War II]] [[guerrilla warfare|guerrillas]] (see also [[Great Patriotic War]]). Ajimushkay catacombs hosted about 10.000 fighters and [[refugee]]s. Many of them died and were buried there, and memorials and museums were later established (it is now a territory of [[Kerch]] city)..
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==In popular culture==
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===Computer and video games===
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Catacombs are a popular feature of many [[Personal computer game|computer]] and [[video game|video games]] due to their association with [[Horror fiction|horror]] and the [[undead]].  Some of the more well-known game catacombs are listed below:
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* Catacombs are a common setting for the [[Tomb Raider]] series, particularly [[Tomb Raider 1]] and [[Tomb Raider 2]] with the ''Catacombs of the Talion''.
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* In the [[Diablo (computer game)|Diablo]] series, catacombs and other burial grounds are frequent settings for the game's action.  These typically include [[sarcophagi]] which the player can loot for treasure, and which often release undead enemies.
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* In [[Ultima_VIII|Ultima VIII: Pagan]] of the [[Ultima]] series, the player must explore the catacombs as part of his quest.
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*The Catacombs feature in the computer game [[Deus Ex]], whereby the player must navigate through the paris catacomb network to escape the majestic 12 antagonists.
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* In the classic game "The Bards Tale" for Amstrad CPC, Spectrum, Apple IIe etc, one of the more advanced dungeons to be explored are the catacombs, involving three levels of progressively harder dungeons filled with roaming undead and other creatures.
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* In [[Turok: Dinosaur Hunter]], Level 5 took place in the Catacombs.
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* In Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, there are Catacombs which contain treasure, weapons, and undead monsters
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* In LucasArt's Mysteries of the Sith, the final level is set in a massive catacomb, in real life length measurements: 5 square miles.  The character Mara Jade must save Kyle Katarn from the dark side.  Kyle is suspended on a pedstal in the middle of the level, until Mara discovers him...
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===Film===
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''Catacombs'' is a film starring Alecia Moore (aka [[Pink (singer)|Pink]]) due to release in [[2007]], which takes place in the [[Catacombs of Paris|Parisian catacombs]].
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In the [[1989]] film [[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade]]; [[Indiana Jones]] ([[Harrison Ford]]) and Dr. Elsa Schneider ([[Alison Doody]]) travel through the Catacombs in Venice while on a search for clues to the location of the [[Holy Grail]].
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In the film [[The Bunker (2001 film)]], German soldiers trapped in a concrete bunker try to find an escape route through subterranean catacombs, where unspeakable evil lurks.
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== See also ==
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*[[Burial mound]]s
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*[[Cemetery]]
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*[[Crypt]]s
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*[[Necropolis]]
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*[[Urban Exploration]]
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== References ==
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<div class="references-small"><references /></div>
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== External links ==
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{{commons|Catacombs|Catacombs}}
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*[http://www.showcaves.com/english/explain/Subterranea/Catacombs.html Catacombs]
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*[http://www.catacombe.roma.it/index.html The Christian Catacombs of Rome]
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{{Credits|Catacombs|135304199|}}

Revision as of 03:12, 7 June 2007


Catacombs Paris
Catacombs Rome - entrance
Catacombs Rome - entrance (detail)
Catacombs Lima. Convento de San Fransisco

The original catacombs[1] are a network of underground burial galleries near San Sebastiano fuori le mura, in Rome. The word now refers to any network of caves, grottos, or subterranean place that is used for the burial of the dead, or it can refer to a specific underground burial place. Famous examples are:

  • Catacombs of Rome in Italy
  • Catacombs of Paris in France
  • Catacombs of Kom el Shuqafa (or Kom al Sukkfa) in Alexandria, Egypt
  • Catacombs of Malta on the Mediterranean island of Malta
  • Catacombs of Sacromonte in Granada, Spain.
  • Capuchin catacombs of Palermo, Italy.
  • Catacombs of Lima in Peru.
  • Catacombs under St. Stephen's cathedral in Vienna.

There are also catacomb-like burial chambers in Anatolia, Turkey; in Susa, North Africa; in Naples, Italy; in Syracuse, Italy; Trier, Germany; Kiev, Ukraine. Capuchin catacombs of Palermo, Sicily were used as late as 1920s.

In Ukraine and Russia, catacomb (used in the local languages' plural katakomby) also refers to the network of abandoned caves and tunnels earlier used to mine stone, especially limestone. Such catacombs are situated in Crimea and the Black Sea coast of these two countries. The most famous are catacombs beneath Odessa and Ajimushkay, Crimea, Ukraine. In the early days of Christianity, believers conducted secret worship services in these burial caves for safety and reverence for the dead. Later, they served as bases for Soviet World War II guerrillas (see also Great Patriotic War). Ajimushkay catacombs hosted about 10.000 fighters and refugees. Many of them died and were buried there, and memorials and museums were later established (it is now a territory of Kerch city)..

In popular culture

Computer and video games

Catacombs are a popular feature of many computer and video games due to their association with horror and the undead. Some of the more well-known game catacombs are listed below:

  • Catacombs are a common setting for the Tomb Raider series, particularly Tomb Raider 1 and Tomb Raider 2 with the Catacombs of the Talion.
  • In the Diablo series, catacombs and other burial grounds are frequent settings for the game's action. These typically include sarcophagi which the player can loot for treasure, and which often release undead enemies.
  • In Ultima VIII: Pagan of the Ultima series, the player must explore the catacombs as part of his quest.
  • The Catacombs feature in the computer game Deus Ex, whereby the player must navigate through the paris catacomb network to escape the majestic 12 antagonists.
  • In the classic game "The Bards Tale" for Amstrad CPC, Spectrum, Apple IIe etc, one of the more advanced dungeons to be explored are the catacombs, involving three levels of progressively harder dungeons filled with roaming undead and other creatures.
  • In Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Level 5 took place in the Catacombs.
  • In Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, there are Catacombs which contain treasure, weapons, and undead monsters
  • In LucasArt's Mysteries of the Sith, the final level is set in a massive catacomb, in real life length measurements: 5 square miles. The character Mara Jade must save Kyle Katarn from the dark side. Kyle is suspended on a pedstal in the middle of the level, until Mara discovers him...

Film

Catacombs is a film starring Alecia Moore (aka Pink) due to release in 2007, which takes place in the Parisian catacombs.

In the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade; Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) and Dr. Elsa Schneider (Alison Doody) travel through the Catacombs in Venice while on a search for clues to the location of the Holy Grail.

In the film The Bunker (2001 film), German soldiers trapped in a concrete bunker try to find an escape route through subterranean catacombs, where unspeakable evil lurks.

See also

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  1. ↑ The derivation is the Latin catacumbæ, from the phrase caca tombs (among the tombs), through metathesis and with attraction of -cumbere (to lie), from Greek κατα (down) and ultimately from Greek τυμβος (tomb) (1). From Chambers Dictionary of Etymology, Chambers (New York), 1988, ISBN 0-550-14230-4, see catacomb and tomb.

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