Understanding Crypt Burial
The Case for Crypt Burial: A Discussion of the Advantages and Customary Practice
Definition of Crypt Burial
Crypt burial is the interment of the deceased by laying him within a recumbent structure known as a crypt. This structure is primarily built within a mausoleum or cemetery. Instead of placing the body in the soil as in most burial practices, a crypt allows for a raised, enclosed space that can be visually appreciated and which facilitates a visit. Its use has existed in many societies and times for a variety of meanings and architectural functions.
In the past, crypts have been used by the rich and the church status symbols often reiterating the class structure of the day. Tombs for pharaohs were built in ancient Egypt for example which illustrated the great value of importance in death. Likewise, the history of early Christians crypts involved the use of such spaces for interments and these spaces were located directly beneath lower levels of churches or cathedrals. Notably, the design of these crypts is decidely different from major influences but it does extend to classic and goth elements that showcase the ideals and religion associated with death and the afterlife.
A crypt is put up with a number of rooms or buildings which in this case are functional units intended to accommodate coffins. These spaces could be embellished with spatial features and other such symbols or writings suggesting the space’s value to the deceased person’s name and memory. Unlike a traditional grave, which is an exhausted place and will be of no subordinate significance as time goes on, a crypt will be able to provide an everlasting desire because it is meant to be a center of focus for remembrance. In addition, since crypts are constructed above the ground, the families can easily visit the resting place and the crypt itself is protected from weather conditions.
Let us now turn our attention to the issues of the advantages of being buried in a crypt and the customs related to it, need to understand the origin of this phenomenon and its diversity from different nations. Learning these aspects will enable us appreciate the place of the life of crypts in the civil practices of memorials.
Cultural and Religious Significance
As with other cultures and religions, so freestanding niche crypts are also a culmination of their fundamental values, beliefs and practices, especially those concerning death and commemoration. In most cultures, the crypts are conceived as holy sites where the mortuary corpses are preserved for the purpose of adoration and acknowledgement of the deceased persons. It is a fact that every culture possesses a distinct reflection of differential beliefs concerning the deceased and this is where such practices rooted from: the originating approximated customs combined with undulation from religion.
For Christians, including Catholics, when a crypt is constructed, a strong sense of holiness accompanies it, particularly since it tends to be the resting place of martyrs, priests and saints. Churches, especially cathedrals, are known to have crypts which often attract pilgrims and devoted worshipers. With the assistance of these types of sites, faithful get to practice spirituality, making it a community-based exercise as they share in the sadness and as they share together in the memories. A perfect illustration is the crypt of Saint Peter’s tomb located in the Vatican which people have great respect and interest in as it contains the last remains of many important people from the history of Christianity.
On the contrary, many Indigenous communities situate crypt burials within the context of rituals that pay respects to the dead and also validate their cultural identity. For example, the Maori in New Zealand profess that life and death are not alien concepts because the ancestors’ spirits still live among them. This belief is often reflected in their funerary practices wherein people have extravagant gatherings to honour a deceased member and what they have given to society.
All over the globe, cosmic significations attached to crypts go beyond religion and supplement culture. From the Egyptian underworld to the Persian mausoleums, administration centers, and tombs witness the visions of the societies that built them. Different cultures and different religions do observe different types of crypts; however, all of them serve the same function – reminding humanity of death, its significance and its essence. Appreciating the notion of crypt burials within specific cultures and religions enhances our comprehension of death and ways of remembering accompanied human sentiments.
Merits of Selecting a Crypt Burial
Crypt burial is a viable alternative for many families since it has both practical and psychological factors that are advantageous. One major advantage is decomp. Crypts are usually made of solid materials such as granite and marbles, and are constructed to be water tight. This feature helps in containing the remains, reducing exposure to elements that cause degradation such as moisture, soil, and other natural factors that can have a negative impact on the traditional method of burial. This is a way in which families can take some degree of comfort as it is known that their loved ones are secured in a conducive environment away from exposure to external systems.
Aside from preservation, crypt burial poses no risks from the elements. Unlike traditional graves however, these crypts are often higher up than the ground or barely above it, meaning flooding or erosion, both of which can erode the remains and the coffin, a common problem with traditional burials, is less likely with crypts. This structural advantage makes crypts extremely useful in areas that are susceptible to harsh weather or modify their lands frequently. Such strength does not only protect the integrity of the coffin but is also an assurance to families of emotional satisfaction over mother nature.
On an economic level, whereas the upfront investment in a crypt may surpass that of some burial alternatives, it can pay off in the long run. Crypts generally require less upkeep and are not as vulnerable to the wear and tear that could lead to further needs, such as the need for more grave space maintenance or rebuilding. In addition, the space efficient designs of the crypts may create less demand for new burials which may be increasingly problematic in the future due to the decreased availability of burial sites. In all, opting for the crypt should appeal to families as it will ensure that their loved ones are comfortably laid to rest and that the memories and legacy of the departed will be preserved.
Modern Perspectives and Trends
At the present time, the trend of using crypt burials is experiencing a revival and it is no longer a foreign practice, given the competition it has with ground burials and cremation. Most people are changing their views and deciding on the places they would like to bury their remains and crypt burials come as a more contemporary option that caters for the beauty and green technologies as well as spatial concerns. The increase in the appreciation of the crypts can be attributed to within the sociological framework to the urbanization that raises concerns of the supply of the burial space.
As urban areas grow, the available spaces for conducting traditional burials are getting limited hence prompting the rethinking about the methods that can be used in the process of interment. Crypts present a more space friendly alternative as they allow for many burials to take place in one design, thus helping save land. More so, crypt burials afford subsequent generations the privilege of erecting memorials which are sometimes bigger and more personalized than the traditional headstones that border the grave area. The boxed-in family invites architecting of current styled graves that sundry to grieving but continue as a signature in memory of the loved ones vanished.
Furthermore, crypt burial also seems to have been influenced by the recent development of green and eco-friendly practices. The development of such things as green, eco-friendly, and sustainable practices such as the development of biodegradable crypts shows consideration about the impact of traditional burial methods. Most of these styles aim at the use of natural materials and the need to be in contact with the ground which resonates with the green consumers. The emergence of such practices only indicates that society is becoming more progressive.
In looking at the current position of the society regarding crypt burial, it is interesting to note that this respected practice still finds its place among the contemporary death care alternatives. The diversity of cryptic scribing offerings continues to find its niche as a blend of tradition and newer practices amongst the people looking for meaningful ways to, immortalize loves ones.
