Protecting the value

Losing a loved one is an extremely traumatic experience. Psychologists say that there is no more devastating experience, and for the person who mourns, learning how to live with the emptiness that is left behind often takes the rest of his or her life.

One of the ways some people try to deal with this pain is to visit the graves of those who have died. Inhumation, the process of burying the dead in the earth is practiced in some parts of the world, while cultural norms also call for the use of mausolea in other places. In recent years, the practice of cremation has become more popular as an option for disposal of human remains, at least in this part of the world, but cremation has been de rigeur in parts of the Orient for centuries.

In ancient Roman times, necropoli (cities of the dead) were accorded great honor, and in some cases were decorated quite lavishly. Even today, the city of Rome is dotted with a number of these burial places. They have become tourist attractions in many cases, even within Vatican City.

A report published yesterday tells of some elaborate restoration work that has recently been completed below Saint Peter's Basilica. The object of attention in this case is the Valerii Mausoleum, a crypt which is located under the Basilica, not far from the spot where it is believed that Saint Peter's mortal remains are found. Due to the fact that there are a number of springs and other water sources flowing beneath the Basilica, the work of preserving these ancient burial sites, either for their historical or artistic value, is a constant concern to historians and property managers at the Vatican alike.

As for those who live in other parts of the world, whether the structures we create to honor and remember our deceased are permanent works of art or simply bronze plaques with simple engraving, the place where we are laid to rest should always be treated with respect, for we who live need things like physical space, designated places to focus our grief. Necropoli and burial grounds are places where the souls of the living who visit from time to time can await the resurrection of the dead.