Regal

I wonder if anyone remembers who they were any more.

if you didn't open any of these caskets, (besides that one that you said had another casket inside) I admire you. no one else I know besides myself would be able to resist the temptation to peek...

You wonder what kind of life this person led.

"Sleek" comes to mind here...What a gallery Motts!

from the looks of it, a rich life, I hope hes not forgotten.

This is great, i've neve had an opportunity to see something like this, thanks for sharing!

very elegant, reminds me of chairs you would see in a wealthy person's library - with leather and nailheads

May their souls rest in peace.

THE BODY MIGHT STILL BE PRESERVED.

How come you did't open any? I know that I would.

hate to sound like a broken record, but this photo is amazing Mr. Motts.

I figure that you would open one. In a way, it would be very cool to see a 300 year old body of rich person. Besides, next time if you do go to a place like this again, will you please open one or two caskets? It would be very cool.

I can understand you being curious.
It would be cool...IF it was a horror movie.
But it's not.
In all seriousness, these are people that have lived their different lives, died, and have been put in their final resting place.
It is out of respect that these were not opened.
This place was photographed to show the inside of such a beautiful building and the amazing craftsmanship that went into the coffins of that time.

Respect is the running theme that you'll find in all of Motts galeries. : )

I don't know, as much as I might be tempted, IMO any sort of forced entry would be wrong. That just crosses the line between respectful observation & the recording of what one see's to share with others to interference.
I, myself, have just a wee bit more of a relaxed interpretation of the "do no harm, take nothing & leave nothing behind" creedo than does our beloved Motts, but on this issue I definitely concur with him.
Now, were I to have seen a coffin or sarcophagus in a state of such disrepair that one could peek into without really disturbing anything, I'd have done so. But, that's it.

Thanks Lady, my friend, I couldn't have said it any better. We need to respect ALL of the sites that Motts photographs and appreciate the fact that we wouldn't have seen these beautiful sites if it weren't for him!

You are very right ladyhawke04008. You have have alot of respect for the dead peple. I think you are cool.

Rock On

Thanks, Ozzy and Janice! : )
I have to say that this site, even though it doesn't have as many pictures as Motts' others, is truly fascinating and one of my favorites!
These coffins are beautiful!
I also never knew that they covered them the way some of these are shown.
Once again, this site has not only been truly entertaining, but educating as well with the many comments by it's viewers.

Outsdr, I'd be willing to bet that these people are not forgotten. Wonderful shots, Motts!

This one Is the most interesting of all, so far. Looks like it was made yesterday. I agree, RESPECT. Your doing an awsome job. YOU ARE GOOD!!! I've told my daughter that when I go , I don't want to be cremated. Eons from now I hope that they exume me to find out what life like in this era. I don't feel that is disrespect. That is research. What do you think?????

I look at this photo, and I feel...loneliness. A beautiful casket, but at the same time a person awaiting eternity. A train station to the hereafter, with one lonely soul on the bench listening for the train's approaching whistle.

Gotta say Motts- Excellent photos, but thanks for respecting where you were. It's easy for us to say we'd like a peek inside, but as others have pointed out, these are the earthly remains of human beings, not props in a Vincent Price flick. To have done otherwise without the permission of the families would have been desicration. There is a fine line between art and garbage, and there are plenty of places on the internet for the latter, not enough of the former. OK, OK, I'm putting the soapbox away!

quien se acuerda de los que ya no estan, escalofriante!!!!

I think it is possible, they have been forgotten. Otherwise, wouldnt it have been cleaned, or swept, items straightened, etc, I would if it was my family place, and I knew about it. Just like now when a person goes and picks the weeds around a headstone, puts in flowers maybe, brushes off the flat-level stones in the ground.....Obviously, no one has been there for quite sometime.

The square cutout in the box would have been a viewing window, would it not? I personally think I would be totally enamored and saddened by finding this and done what I could to tidy it up a bit. Would have tried to find the nameplate or small decoration that is missing from that other close-up pic. I also, like to think I would never touch the viewing portal, but then again, might be tempted since that is in essence what it was for, though by family. But in taking over just a little upkeep, even if temporary, I would sort of associate myself with that family and its history. I would be living at the historical society or library, town hall, etc trying to figure out the who's, what's, where's, and whatnots of that family line as far to the present as possible. I love history, archeology, and the like, so when I get drawn to something or someone, I sorta get cramped vision as to anything else, until the curiosity is fulfilled.
Sorry so long, didnt intend it to be, I swear it!

Bella Lugosi, eat your heart out.

poor guy

I can agree that we all can can our tempation and curiosities here. God Bless Motts for his respect for peace and remeberance. Un like some who relish in desecration.

This is my kind of thing! I love to visit old cemeteries . I like reading the dates and names on the tombs. And if any flowers fallen over, I set them back right. and pull weeds from around the tomb.

I wonder what these people considered regarding thier remains here.Did they consider it would always be regal and off-limits?Or if enough time past,such as it has,and it fell into obscurity and disrepair,such as it has,would a small smile come to the corner of thier mouth regarding people such as us ,regarding what they left behind,so, as all is not lost.

Very gothis looking coffin. Very nice also.

That coffin is very disturbing - looks like a long leather body bag with studs in it

I dunno. The soul is gone, and so is the person. It's just a body in there. /shrug

I'm eleven, I know it sounds really soppy, but this isn't an asylum, there are people there and I don't care if thier dead, but thier not like old equipment abandoned in hospitals. It's just really sad and sick that thier just forgotton, nobody knows who they are. I bet all of you would dissagree with me, but I just feel it really sad and touching that thier just left there. People loved theese people once. And those people to are probably dead. I respect you Motts for not peeking at them.