“…a Gentle Calm and Happy Resurrection” – Theological and Folk-religious Backgrounds of Crypt Burials

Abstract

For years there has been a lively discussion if there did exist a tradition of intentional mummification in Christian Europe, since hundreds of naturally mummified individuals of a social elite have been found preserved in family- and church crypts. But in most cases well ventilated crypt spaces are the reason for this natural mummification. Besides their dynastic and representative nature, crypts with the well closed coffins were probably understood as spaces of protection for a facilitated resurrection of the body at the day of judgement. Physical resurrection was church-dogmatical from the beginning of Christianity until 20th century and as well a private religious fact. Numerous inscriptions on coffins and crypt walls testify the hope of a “happy resurrection”. The believe in resurrection is common for all confessions, though it is probably Protestantism that has promoted burials in crypts. But only the comprehension of the interaction of different social and religious aspects opens the access to the complex “crypt”.