|
The mummies of St. Michan`s |
 |
St Michan's church in Dublin ,Ireland despite possessing an organ where Handel once played his "Messiah", is most famous for the occupants of its crypt. The remarkably well preserved bodies of the people interred there over the centuries can be seen where their coffins have split open and broken. The bodies mummified because of the extremely dry atmosphere down in the crypt probably caused by the magnesium in the limestone of the walls . Flowers are banned from the crypt in case their moisture would damage the fragile remains. |
| The four bodies which can
be viewed by visitors remain unidentified. A tall male figure at the rear
of one of the crypts rooms is reputed to be that of a crusader .The finger
of the said Knight has been rubbed almost smooth by generations of
visitors touching the crusader for luck ,which at the time of our visit we
were also fortunate to do. Also in the tiny room is another figure reputed
to be a thief because one of the hands has been cut off .A female figure
nearby is said to be that of a nun. Else where in the crypt are the
coffins of two leading United Irishmen John and Henry Sheares, who where
among planners of the 1798 rebellion, who were interred here after their
executions. Another of the 1798 rebels, Robert Emmet, is also thought to
have his resting place at St Michan's, in the graveyard. However his grave
remains unmarked.
|
Drawings Copy write Graphite Graveyard 2004
|