Empty Sarcophagi in Alyscamps
It may come across as strange to visit a cemetery as part of a tour but Alyscamps in Arles isn’t just any cemetery. It is named a necropolis or city of the dead. This was where the ancient Roman would bury their dead. It remained in well after the Christianization of the Roman empire. Some well known figures were buried here which added to the prestige of the necropolis. The bodies from all over Europe would be shipped all the way to Arles just to be buried here. As a result, there was overcrowding here at Alyscamps.
Mostly Intact Sarcophagus in Alyscamps
Long before the advent of columbariums, Alyscamps made it fashionable. There were so many bodies here that the sacrophagi had to be stacked one on top of the other. It would have been difficult to find your deceased if it was this crowded. Perhaps there was a way for them to find out where they are. The stacking of sarcophagi didn’t seem to last that long. Since the popularity of Alycamps went down because the famous figures buried there were moved elsewhere. Not too long, Alyscamps became a shell of it former self with the necropolis pillaged. Even sarcophagi were given as gifts to important people. I wasn’t sure what was so good about getting one of those but this contributed to the decline of the site. There are still numerous sarcophagi lining the street of Alyscamps but probably not as numerous as it was before.
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