Empire of Death: A Cultural History of Ossuaries and Charnel Houses

by Paul Koudounaris

It is sometimes said that death is the last taboo, but it was not always so. For centuries, religious establishments constructed decorated ossuaries and charnel houses that stand as masterpieces of art created from human bone. These unique structures have been pushed into the footnotes of history; they were part of a dialogue with death that is now silent.

The sites in this specially photographed and brilliantly original study range from the...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0500251789
• ISBN13: 9780500251782
• Release Date: October 2011
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 3.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 9.0" x 12.2"