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Paul Koudounaris

Empire of Death: A Cultural History of Ossuaries and Charnel Houses Hardcover – Illustrated, October 24, 2011

by Paul Koudounaris (Author)

4.9 265 ratings

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From bone fetishism in the ancient world to painted skulls in Austria and Bavaria: an unusual and compelling work of cultural history.

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 Monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Palermo, where the living would visit mummified or skeletal remains and lovingly dress them; to the Paris catacombs; to fantastic bone-encrusted creations in Austria, Cambodia, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Italy, Peru, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and elsewhere.

Paul Koudounaris photographed more than seventy sites for this book. He analyzes the role of these remarkable memorials within the cultures that created them, as well as the mythology and folklore that developed around them, and skillfully traces a remarkable human endeavor. 290 photographs, 260 in color

Print length

224 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Thames & Hudson
Publication date

October 24, 2011
Dimensions

9.2 x 1.1 x 12.4 inches
ISBN-10

0500251789
ISBN-13

979-0500251781
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Review

". . . an astounding achievement, both as a literary and photographic work."
― Fangoria

"Koudounaris gracefully transcends mere ghastliness and ghoulishness to challenge cultural perceptions of death, both current and centuries old. The result is not only a highly original work of great visual beauty and rigorous scholarship but also a surprisingly intimate and tender meditation on what the author calls 'the dialogue with the dead.'"
― Bloomsbury Review

"The photos of the skulls alone justify the purchase."
― Talk

About the Author

Paul Koudounaris received his doctorate from the art history department at UCLA. His previous books include The Empire of Death and Heavenly Bodies. He lives in Los Angeles.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thames & Hudson; Illustrated edition (October 24, 2011)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0500251789
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-0500251781
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.44 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.2 x 1.1 x 12.4 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #340,038 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #77 in Conceptual Arts (Books)
- #109 in Religious Arts & Photography
- #443 in History of Religions

Customer Reviews:
4.9 265 ratings

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Paul Koudounaris

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PhD, Art History UCLA; I live in Los Angeles, CA, USA. I photograph and write about some very fascinating dead people throughout the world. Will be back in the UK for an appearance at the Bram Stoker Film Festival in October of 2015--more details will be forthcoming, or check with the festival website for general information.

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265 global ratings

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William Bannier

Very Interesting Book!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 10, 2022

Verified Purchase

Bought this for my daughter to a research paper for school. I ended up reading it myself once she was finished with her paper. Fascinating subject and an interesting part of history!

Helpful

lisaleo (Lisa Yount)

interesting, if macabre, art book on ossuaries

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 23, 2019

Verified Purchase

From the Middle Ages through the nineteenth century, a number of churches in Europe built ossuaries and charnels—chambers that housed the bones of the deceased. Monasteries saved the bones (or sometimes mummified bodies) of past members, and some towns preserved and commemorated victims of battles or natural disasters. Sometimes the bones and skulls were simply piled in heaps, but often they were instead placed in artistic arrangements designed to make viewers think about the transience of mortal life: “As we are, so you shall become.” In addition to this solemn purpose, some ossuaries became (and in some cases still are) tourist attractions, with certain skulls even being asked to provide winning lottery numbers.

Koudounaris’s book provides a history of ossuaries and their different uses, plus large, full-color pictures of the most interesting displays. My only complaint about the book is that the type size of the text is quite small, making it somewhat difficult to read. I recommend the book to anyone interested in unusual byways of religious or artistic history or who simply likes bones and skulls.

6 people found this helpful

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AnotherSeeker

Better than I hoped!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 24, 2014

Verified Purchase

I wanted a book that would give historical and interesting facts on places of death and our treatment of the dead. That is just what was delivered and more. The photos are large, high quality and provoked a range of emotions from me including shock, dread, awe, curiosity, and the desire to learn more. I agree with another reviewer that, despite its "coffee table" appearance, the information in this book is very well researched. Also, the the material is in-depth without being academic or dense and seems to build on itself to form a chronology of the history/facts covered.

Two, perhaps, unexpected consequences of my reading this:

1. My acceptance of death as a normal part of being human has already increased as a result of what I have read and I am definitely more open to its discussion.

2. I recognize a need for society to demystify death and break down the taboos so as to better prepare ourselves, thus living more deliberately.

6 people found this helpful

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B.K.H.

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

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 23, 2013

Verified Purchase

Back about eight months ago, a friend had mentioned this book to me about not just the text, but about all the photography & the histories. I found a very nice copy on here & I'm so glad I ordered it.
"The Empire Of Death" is incredible in every sense of the word. It's one of those books that comes along once in a Blue Moon.
The scope & depth of the photographs makes it worthy of praise in itself, (The cover photo is just a glimpse of that.) but the histories & research concerning the world of death & the care that people will take to preserve one's physical & at times, almost supernatural memory make it a gem in the world of culture, history & archaeology.
Anyone that is a history buff, student of history & culture would more than enjoy this book.
Highly recommended.

One person found this helpful

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Graveyard Dave

... up and goes a bit deeper than Paul Koudounaris' excellent previous book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 12, 2015

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A lovely photography book that picks up and goes a bit deeper than Paul Koudounaris' excellent previous book, "Heavenly Bodies" - the images are hypnotic and so full of radiant 'life' and beauty, artistry and veneration, that while being drawn in to the superb imagery one can never forget exactly what we are seeing - the glorification of the inevitable. The book itself is a work of art - heavy, golden decorative pattens adorn the thick covers, while the pages are exquisite glossy heavy bond. At 224 pages, this is a work of love and craftsmanship. And, without many of these images, where would all those Death Metal bands get their album covers?

6 people found this helpful

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Bookworm70

For Those Who Are Not Brave Enough To Enter The Other Side Of The Veil

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 26, 2011

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Littered around Europe are so called Ossuaries where bones are
kept either in special niches or arranged in convivial macabre
baroque art. This book is a compendium of such shrines and a
homage to death itself.

Paul Koudounaris has documented well and little known Charnel
Houses, not to mention he presented it with flair and supplemented
with several pictures.

Included in this handsome hardbound book are the famous Capuchin
Church in Palermo,Scwarzenberg Chapel, Waldsassen and Church of
Saint Francis in Portugal.

This is highly recommended for those who are Connosieurs of the
Strange and those who are not brave enough to cross the threshold
of the said chapels and churches. Dr. Koudounaris has done an
excellent job and give us a free tour of the Realm of the Dead.

8 people found this helpful

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Eve

Absolutely beautiful photography

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 14, 2011

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I am so happy that I ordered this book. It is full of stunning photography and the binding is very elegant. This was a perfect addition to my collection of books about Ossuaries. Typically these kinds of books are either coffee-table books burdened by mediocre writing and poor scholarship, or textbooks with wonderful historical perspective but few images. The text by Koudounaris entirely worth reading, though the format sacrifices ease of reading for visual appeal. Some of the sites in this book are rarely photographed or written about, so it is really a wonderful resource in addition to a beautiful book for display. It also includes map locations and very clear cross referencing in the appendices. To be honest, the photographs are so beautiful that it would be worth buying for those alone.

22 people found this helpful

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buen chapin

Another masterpiece from P. Koudounaris..... "A+"

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 30, 2018

Verified Purchase

Awesome! Anthropoligst, phsychologists and thansthologists galore.! Also very interesting for people intrigued about or researching the reality of death. Very few books on this topic available. Not so good as Memento Mori, but also extraordinary images and text. Try a recently released book from another author, called "Death, a graveside companion".(1st edition). It's TRULLY awesome!!

One person found this helpful

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Jonathan R

Excelente compra

Reviewed in Mexico 🇲🇽 on February 7, 2023

Verified Purchase

Muy buena calidad en las imágenes y de excelente tamaño el libro, muy interesante información

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EisNinE

Ecce Homo, Ecce Mors

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on January 13, 2014

Verified Purchase

As has been testified elsewhere, Paul Koudanaris' exploration of the historical anachronism known as the 'Ossuary' is, firstly, a work of exceptional beauty. His photographs of these places that are entirely morbid to many Western eyes, evincing second & third hand impressions of the Black Death & two World Wars (both times the Horseman of War is followed closely by Death, Plague and famine: the scarlet fever showing no mercy to the already ravaged nations who fought in the Great War: the terrifying industrialized killing machines employed by the Nazi's to make quick pitiless work of genocide), have far more significance than mere shock. His anthropological investigation into the origins of the Ossuary suggest a deep cultural disconnect that only a small and curious portion of the Western World have managed to plug themselves into. Until the 19th & 20th centuries, the average person had a familiarity with death that was unavoidable. The skull was seen as a symbol of one's resignation to his own mortality. From the late Gothic to the Renaissance to the Baroque, the 'Vanitas' theme of the living man studying the dead to remind himself of life's transience is a constant. The Ossuary can be seen as an architectural and sculptural progression of the Vanitas theme, as well as a solution to a very real problem of city-planning. As plagues and battles raged, and cities continued to grow through the late medieval age, places to bury the dead became harder to find. Graveyards were stacking graves two - three coffins deep. As the distances one was forced to travel in order to bury the dead became untenable, the catacombs were opened and expanded, and the Ossuary was born. The decorative and artistic qualities came from a need for reverance, far from the 'blasphemous' intent that modern eyes think they perceive. The skull is no longer a symbol of mortality, those eyeless sockets windows into the world beyond. Koudanaris is skilled as both a photographer and writer, and the book is copiously illustrated with full color photos of magnificent specimens like St. Pancratius, his bones carefully assembled in his gleaming suit of bespoke armor of silver and gold. Thames and Hudson are repected publishers, and the design and production of this book explains why this is so. A thick black cover with gilt-embossed titles and borders, dual-paper stock, one optimal for text, the other high-quality semi-gloss, the primary stock, perfect for hi-res photo reproductions. A must buy for anyone with a fascination for mans relationship with his mortality.

One person found this helpful

TERRANCE D. MERX

best book to date on this subject

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on September 9, 2013

Verified Purchase

I have a very comprehensive library and much of it is devoted to similar themes. This is easily the best tome I have seen on this topic because the pictures that accompany the text are exquisite. Perhaps its the comprehensive text that accompanies the pictures; either way, this is the most prized contemporary book in my collection. Definitely looking forward to future publications from this author! The presentation of the book is beautiful, (cover, paper quality, photos, layout,etc.) but I have some concerns that perhaps the binding isn't as strong and sturdy as I would like. Highly recommended for necrophiliacs and other folks with morbid curiosity. If you like skull and bone art (& memento mori) this is the best!

4 people found this helpful

Felicity

Great

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on July 9, 2013

Verified Purchase

I'm writing this because there are no others on amazon.ca...it's a really great 'coffee table' book. With gorgeous pictures, an amazing presentation (quite imposing and large), and for a can't beat price. Although I would never find it in stores, it would likely be much much more expensive. It's actually quite informative for a coffee table book.

Sometimes the writing is a little small and hard to read (it's in a light colour, and there's lots of it).

One person found this helpful

Great photos, incredible text

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on May 8, 2015

Verified Purchase

One of the most amazingly bizarre collections of artistic bones and history that I have come across in a long time. Great photos, incredible text.
Would highly recommend this book to anyone who has any interest in religious mythology and practice.

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