> I was looking into the history of religious military orders to use as a basis for the [[biladiyn|paladin-analogues]] in my novel and discovered the Order of the Holy Sepulchre refers to a tomb. So I went down the rabbit hole and discovered... ## Fun Facts - A sepulchre specifically refers to rock-cut room, typically cut into a cave, such as Christ's tomb.  - A hypogaeum is an underground tomb, such as the Thebian necropolis. The term is interchangeable with catacomb.  - The [[Maya]] used cinnabar to dye the bones of their dead red before interring them. - A kurgan (typically associated with [[Scythian]] culture) is a type of burial mound where a single person is buried along with grave vessels, weapons and horses. - Many fairies of Celtic lore are traditionally thought to inhabit the ancient barrows and cairns of Ireland. ## Bacteria Destroy Monuments Although the degradation of monuments and buildings is usually blamed on weather, but some microbes cause deterioration because of how they interact with salt in the air. \[[Read More](https://click.mailerlite.com/link/c/YT0xNTA0OTE3NDAzNDc2MTY5OTgyJmM9azd2NCZiPTQwMzI4NDE1OCZkPXgxazRkOHo=.YIk_67IpbqoynwguJtyZqYzvIMMsBCu2u4npwA3Rpfo)\] ## Vaulted Tombs Collapse The early [[who the Minoans were and theories for their decline]], on Crete, continued to use their circular vaulted tombs -- called tholos tombs -- even after roof collapse. They apparently buried their dead on top of the fallen stones. ([Read More](http://www.minoancrete.com/yerokambos.htm)) ## Lines of Mounds The [[Scythian|Scythians]] — horse nomads who gave rise to myths of the Amazons — built burial mounds in straight lines on the Eurasian steppes. \[[Read More](https://click.mailerlite.com/link/c/YT0xNTA0OTE3NDAzNDc2MTY5OTgyJmM9azd2NCZiPTQwMzI4NDE2NyZkPWYxeTZ5OXM=.g6UAdiA1v67l02Fpf-ZcAB0PTHiaL3F4rK2vngjTZR8)\] ## Location, Location, Location Many tombs, including the pyramid tombs of the [[Maya]], are located in, under, or beside religious buildings like temples & churches. \[[Read More](https://click.mailerlite.com/link/c/YT0xNTA0OTE3NDAzNDc2MTY5OTgyJmM9azd2NCZiPTQwMzI4NDE3MCZkPXozZzdlNXo=.bFrkLc_RlfOHTmhvrENhCFjp-tX-TXOasjb7Rh3C3QI)\]