Monday, January 16, 2012

Taphophile Tragics # 4

Carolyn, our Tragic from Oakland, last week, introduced the term 'columbarium'. Here is a view from inside the Botany Columbarium, in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. Botany has mausoluems, graves, lawn cemetery sections, cremation walls, and cremation gardens. Inside a columbarium can be quite stuffy. Letty, our Tragic from Ararat Grace, our Tragic from Perth, likened them to a 'library' of the dead, which is so spot on. However, the positive is that you learn a bit about the departed because small items are left within the 'shelf'. With any sort of luck they will not be weathered, vandalised, or stolen.

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Welcome to the fourth week of Taphophile Tragics. You will be familiar with the posting methodology, which I have detailed in a drop-down beneath the blog title. Mr Linky opens at 10pm Monday, Sydney time (GMT+11), and, hopefully, will close at 10pm Friday.

Please visit the contributing bloggers to show your appreciation of their endeavours.

27 comments:

Francisca said...

I see this is going to be a very informative and exciting meme! Although I am aware of various methods of laying our loved ones to rest, I've not paid particular attention to the terminology of the trade. This is tragically terrific!

Julie said...

It is tragically terrific, I agree. It is when I encounter someone like Gene from Oakland, with his knowledge of graveyard symbolism, that I feel blessed.

Francisca said...

Where do I find Gene from Oakland? I only know Carolyn.

Julie said...

Gene's first post for Taphophile Tragics was http://blog.ouroakland.net/2012/01/taphophile-tragics-2-frank-ogawa.html

He has an engrossing Flickr set as well detailing the symbols as he finds them, which can be found at https://plus.google.com/photos/108860713344732311264/albums/5692140153586966129/5692140269441600386?banner=pwa

Francisca said...

Excellent... will check out Gene's previous posts as soon as I can. I will soon slip behind China's firewall and may not have access to blogs. (The second link goes to his Google+ site, and I can access it only if I erase ?banner=pwa from the URL.)

Julie said...

Yes, I read you were slipping behind the 'silk curtain'. Must be a pain I should think. Like half your brain has been blanked out! Would to me ...

freefalling said...

No - 'twasn't me - 'twas Perth DP!

Julie said...

Was ir? Ooo ... I will check then update. Hang on a tick ...

Julie said...

Oops .. checked and heaven forbid, Letty is right. *slaps self on wrist* now to work out how to alter html to strike something out.

Julie said...

Phew ... strike and end strike ...duh!

Gemma Wiseman said...

Such an intriguing meme! I am enjoying this one more and more because I am learning so much and seeing such unusual features! I do not know of any columbarium on my peninsula, but I'll keep my eyes peeled now I know what to look for! And yes! It is like a library!

Unknown said...

Fascinating! I'm really enjoying this meme, Julie!

Dianne said...

Columbarium - an interesting word Julie and a different concept. I've never seen anything else like it - love the bits an pieces I'm learning along the way on TT.

tapirgal said...

Hi Julie, I really will get some new ones posted soon, but the columbarium theme reminded me of a bizarre columbarium along the Oregon coast that I'd posted previously. I accidentally posted it as Tapirgal's Daily today when it should have been Astoria, Oregon, Daily Photo. Oh, well. Maybe I'll get a new one added this week also.

tapirgal said...

Julie, I think you're right! Still looks like Rock Hudson to me.

Joan Elizabeth said...

Didn't know there were any columbariums in oz.

Stefan Jansson said...

There are seven columbariums in Sweden. The Swedish word is Gravvalv. The first one opened in 1924 in Stockholm.

CaT said...

library of the dead sounds very interesting.
it seems that this is inside?
i still do prefer a grave, i think.

Julie said...

I have a columbarium photo that is outside, but generally the outside storage of ashes is called a 'wall', for obvious reasons. Yes, this one of mine is inside. It would not be my choice. i am still considering my options. I will be cremated, but I think I want my ashed in a garden, maybe not scattered, but in a garden.

Kathy said...

Thanks for hosting this great meme. This week is my first post and I look forward to seeing what others offer.

Julie said...

Kathy, welcome. Do travel around a little in our diverse community. There is sufficient for all interests. Thank you for your contribution.

Mark said...

Julie I have a new word in the lexicon for 'taphophlie tragics',
Lawnised: The act of removing headstones from their rightful place and regrouping them on the margins for the purpose of creating a public park/open space.

CaT said...

julie! thanks for your comment. unfortunately, in the US people still get research money even though they break the rules... that gets harder and harder, but the story about henrietta lacks (and her HeLa) cells taught me that scientists did (and probably do) a lot of stuff they very well knew is not ethical... all for a chance to success and/or fame.

anyways, my name is catheleyne, but i go by cat, as thats quite a bit shorter and easier for people to pronounce (it usually becomes kathleen and thats not right!)

Julie said...

Mark: I like that, 'lawnised'. But you know, I much prefer to have to weave my way around the markers knowing full-well that there are remains beneath my feet.

Julie said...

Cat: So the mystery of the name is solved. Thank you for that. I can understand the annoyance of always having it misspelt.

That is sad about the pressures upon researchers to come up with something 'marketable' just to ensure future funding. One hears it everysooften here too.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

Julie@ I recognized you from Karin's Altadena Hiker blog - but I must say, I've really enjoyed your astute observations on our blogs. I crown you the queen of all things Taphophile. It's been great fun

Julie said...

*blush*

but thank you ...