Difference between revisions of "Necropolis" - New World Encyclopedia

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[[Category:Politics and social sciences]]
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{{for|The 1980 [[gothic novel]] by [[Basil Copper]]|Necropolis (novel)}}
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{{Wiktionary|necropolis}}
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[[Image:Banditaccia1.jpg|thumb|250px|View of the [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]] necropolis of Banditaccia, in [[Cerveteri]], Italy.]]
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[[Image:Nekropole (Taranto) - Via Crispi.jpg|thumb|250px|Necropolis - athlete tomb ([[Taranto]]), Italy.]]
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[[Image:Stećak.jpg|thumb|250px|Radimlja necropolis of ''stećak'' in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]]]
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A '''necropolis''' (plural: ''necropolises'' or ''necropoleis'') is a large [[cemetery]] or burial place (from [[Greek language|Greek]] ''nekropolis'' "city of the dead"). Apart from the occasional application of the word to modern cemeteries outside large towns, the term is chiefly used of burial grounds near the sites of the centers of ancient civilizations.
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==History and purpose==
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The oldest necropolis in the world is probably the [[Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni]] in [[Paola, Malta|Paola]], [[Malta]] which dates back to [[2500 B.C.E.]].
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Necropolises were built for many reasons. Sometimes their origin was purely religious: the [[Valley of the Kings]] in [[Egypt]] is a prime example. Other cultures created necropolises in response to prohibitions on burials within city limits: especially noteworthy and rich of artpieces are those from the [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]] civilization found in southern [[Tuscany]] and northern [[Lazio]] regions of [[Italy]]. In the [[Roman Empire]], roads immediately outside towns therefore came to be lined with funerary monuments. Examples of this kind of necropolis can be found on the [[Appian Way]] just outside [[Rome]] and at the [[Alyscamps]] in [[Arles]], [[France]].
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During the [[19th century]], necropolises enjoyed a revival spurred by the [[Victorian fashion]] for large, elaborate memorials.
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A modern-day example of a necropolis may be [[Colma, California]]. This suburb of [[San Francisco]] has been used for decades to bury the dead of San Francisco, as well as those of other nearby towns. The citizens had felt it necessary to bury the dead outside of city limits, and perhaps out of sight as well. Colma recently has become more of a working-class suburb, but the dead still outnumber the living in this small town.
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The word is often used with a different connotation in [[fantasy]] literature; for instance, it might refer to a city populated by [[zombie]]s or other [[undead]] creatures.
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==Recent Uncovering==
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Three years ago, workers excavating for a parking garage discovered a necropolis in [[Vatican City]]. Once it was discovered, work on the parking garage stopped and efforts to restore the site started. As of [[9 October|October 9]], [[2006]], it is now open to the public. Visitors can use a catwalk to view the necropolis from a building built over the ruins.
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<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/09/AR2006100900486.html| title=Vatican unveils Roman necropolis inside its walls | accessdate=2006-10-09}}</ref>
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==List of necropoleis==
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====[[Algeria]]====
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*[[Nepasa]]
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====[[Austria]]====
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* [[Imperial Crypt, Vienna|Imperial Crypt]] ([[Vienna]])
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====[[Australia]]====
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* [[Rookwood Cemetery]] ([[Sydney]])
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* [[Waverley Cemetery]] ([[Sydney]])
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* [[Toowong Cemetery]] ([[Brisbane]])
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* [[Karrakatta Cemetery]] ([[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]])
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* [[Springvale Botanical Cemetery]] ([[Melbourne]])
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* [[Melbourne General Cemetery]] ([[Melbourne]])
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==== [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] ====
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* [[Radimlja]]
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====[[Bulgaria]]====
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* [[Varna Necropolis]]
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====[[China]]====
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* [[Terracotta_Army| Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor]]
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* [[Ming Dynasty Tombs]]
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==== [[Croatia]] ====
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* [[Stara Novalja]]
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====[[Cyprus]]====
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* [[Amathus]]
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====[[Egypt]]====
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* [[Cairo]]
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* [[Great Pyramid of Giza]]
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* [[Memphis, Egypt|Memphis]]
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* [[Saqqara]]
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* [[Siwa Oasis]]
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====[[France]]====
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* [[Alyscamps]] ([[Arles]])
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* [[The Panthéon]] ([[Paris]])
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* [[Saint Denis Basilica]] ([[Saint-Denis]])
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====[[Israel]]====
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*[[Beit Shaarim]]
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====[[Italy]]====
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*[[Cerveteri]]
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* [[Lipari]] ([[Aeolian Islands]])
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* [[Locri]]
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* [[Pantalica]]
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* [[Taranto]]
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====[[Malaysia]]====
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*[[Nirvana Memorial Park]]
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====[[Malta]]====
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*[[Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni]]
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====[[Morocco]]====
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*[[Chellah]]
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====[[Pakistan]]====
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* [[Thatta|Makli]]
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====[[Peru]]====
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* [[Paracas culture|Paracas]]
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====[[Russia]]====
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* [[Kremlin Wall Necropolis]]
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====[[United Kingdom]]====
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*[[Brookwood Cemetery]]
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* [[London Necropolis railway station]]
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* [[London Necropolis Company]]
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* [[Glasgow Necropolis]]
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====[[United States]]====
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* [[Colma, California]]
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====[[Vatican City]]====
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==See also==
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* [[Cemetery]]
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* [[Catacombs]]
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* [[Crypt]]
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== References and footnotes ==
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<div class="references">
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<references />
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</div>
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{{Credits|Necropolis|112971177|}}

Revision as of 21:31, 19 March 2007


File:Banditaccia1.jpg
View of the Etruscan necropolis of Banditaccia, in Cerveteri, Italy.
File:Nekropole (Taranto) - Via Crispi.jpg
Necropolis - athlete tomb (Taranto), Italy.
Radimlja necropolis of stećak in Bosnia and Herzegovina

A necropolis (plural: necropolises or necropoleis) is a large cemetery or burial place (from Greek nekropolis "city of the dead"). Apart from the occasional application of the word to modern cemeteries outside large towns, the term is chiefly used of burial grounds near the sites of the centers of ancient civilizations.

History and purpose

The oldest necropolis in the world is probably the Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni in Paola, Malta which dates back to 2500 B.C.E.

Necropolises were built for many reasons. Sometimes their origin was purely religious: the Valley of the Kings in Egypt is a prime example. Other cultures created necropolises in response to prohibitions on burials within city limits: especially noteworthy and rich of artpieces are those from the Etruscan civilization found in southern Tuscany and northern Lazio regions of Italy. In the Roman Empire, roads immediately outside towns therefore came to be lined with funerary monuments. Examples of this kind of necropolis can be found on the Appian Way just outside Rome and at the Alyscamps in Arles, France.

During the 19th century, necropolises enjoyed a revival spurred by the Victorian fashion for large, elaborate memorials.

A modern-day example of a necropolis may be Colma, California. This suburb of San Francisco has been used for decades to bury the dead of San Francisco, as well as those of other nearby towns. The citizens had felt it necessary to bury the dead outside of city limits, and perhaps out of sight as well. Colma recently has become more of a working-class suburb, but the dead still outnumber the living in this small town.

The word is often used with a different connotation in fantasy literature; for instance, it might refer to a city populated by zombies or other undead creatures.

Recent Uncovering

Three years ago, workers excavating for a parking garage discovered a necropolis in Vatican City. Once it was discovered, work on the parking garage stopped and efforts to restore the site started. As of October 9, 2006, it is now open to the public. Visitors can use a catwalk to view the necropolis from a building built over the ruins. [1]

List of necropoleis

Algeria

  • Nepasa

Austria

Australia

  • Rookwood Cemetery (Sydney)
  • Waverley Cemetery (Sydney)
  • Toowong Cemetery (Brisbane)
  • Karrakatta Cemetery (Perth)
  • Springvale Botanical Cemetery (Melbourne)
  • Melbourne General Cemetery (Melbourne)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • Radimlja

Bulgaria

  • Varna Necropolis

China

Croatia

  • Stara Novalja

Cyprus

  • Amathus

Egypt

France

  • Alyscamps (Arles)
  • The Panthéon (Paris)
  • Saint Denis Basilica (Saint-Denis)

Israel

  • Beit Shaarim

Italy

  • Cerveteri
  • Lipari (Aeolian Islands)
  • Locri
  • Pantalica
  • Taranto

Malaysia

  • Nirvana Memorial Park

Malta

  • Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni

Morocco

  • Chellah

Pakistan

  • Makli

Peru

  • Paracas

Russia

  • Kremlin Wall Necropolis

United Kingdom

  • Brookwood Cemetery
  • London Necropolis railway station
  • London Necropolis Company
  • Glasgow Necropolis

United States

  • Colma, California

Vatican City

See also

References and footnotes

  1. ↑ Vatican unveils Roman necropolis inside its walls. Retrieved 2006-10-09.


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