The Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo

Human beings have always had a fascination with death. In some cultures, the dead are never left alone, but continue to interact with the living. For instance, some set up ancestor cults to memorialise their dead forbearers. Others believe that the living can communicate with the dead via mediums. While these forms of interaction deal with the dead in their ethereal forms, the living also interact with the physical remains of the dead. One of the most common modes of this interaction is the preservation of dead bodies. Although the most famous mummies belong to the ancient Egyptian civilisation, they are certainly not the only ones that have been produced by mankind. Mummies have been made in different time periods by various cultures. One such example would be the mummies in the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo (The Catacombe dei Cappuccini).