Erin, as I looked at these pics, I was asking myself the same (somewhat morbid) question that you asked. I personally don't have any experience with crypts as everyone who has passed in my life was buried and not crypted. (cryptified? crypticated?) But like you I wonder if one were to visit a place like this say a month or two after someone was laid to rest, would the air in there be just a little too much to bear? Have coffins always been made completely airtight, even back in the days when ones such as these were placed?

Wow, just think of all the poor people who were tortured in this place. (Sorry, but I had to say that. Every one of these sets needs *somebody* to say it :)
Very cool pics Motts. Creepy and beautiful all rolled into one.