It takes a very warped mind to go round the world, stopping off at tombs, graves and memorials, but you’d be surprised at how many of the world’s great sites were built to house the dead or contain the ashes of the famous and powerful. Take the following selection, for instance.
Mao’s mausoleum, China
Right in the heart of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, the Mausoleum of Chairman Mao was an astonishing feat of constructional organisation. Taking raw materials from all over the country, and 700,000 ‘volunteer’ workers, it was created from scratch within less than a year of the godfather of Chinese Communism dying. Obviously, this didn’t leave much time for spectacular architecture, as it comes across as a slightly utilitarian effort, but that doesn’t stop thousands queuing to walk past Mao Tse Tung’s embalmed body every day. The huge irony, of course, is that Mao requested to be cremated.
The Taj Mahal, India
There’s pining over a lost love and then there’s taking it completely over the top. Mughal emperor Shah Jahan took the latter option when his beloved wife died in 1631, and commissioned what is now one of the most famous buildings on earth at Agra. While today it is a massive tourist attraction, the white marble masterpiece was originally constructed purely to house the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to the Shah’s 14th child. Regarded as one of the most romantic places in the world, the perfect symmetry of the Tah Mahal was spoiled when the Shah’s tomb was lumped next to his wife’s, their eldest son not caring for his father’s ostentatious tribute.
Normandy War cemeteries
Over 400,000 men died in the D-Day landings, and subsequent battle of Normandy, back in 1944. Crucial to the Allies winning the Second World War, the invasion took a heavy toll. Today, there are museums and memorials in many Norman towns, but it’s the cemeteries that have the biggest impact. For sheer size, head to the American Military Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, while the German Military Cemetery at La Cambe is notable for its chilling bleakness.
Central Park, New York
After John Lennon was shot dead outside his apartment in New York, the people of the city decided that a proper tribute to the former Beatle was needed. Hence the Strawberry Fields Memorial was erected opposite where Lennon used to live, in Central Park, and some of his ashes were scattered there. It’s now a pilgrimage site for Beatles fans.
The Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt
Built to house the remains of the Egyptian Pharoah Khufu, the Great Pyramid’s very existence is astonishing. To get an indication of what a phenomenal achievement this was, bear in mind that it was the tallest building in the world for over 4,000 years, and modern estimates suggest that 36,000 workers and 27 years would have been needed to complete it. Even with modern technology available, it would still be a tough ask, firstly finding enough limestone to make the two million-plus blocks required, secondly to ship it there, and thirdly to put it all together.
Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris
In terms of roll call, this huge graveyard within the French capital has a claim to be the most famous in the world. All bases are covered, from composers such as Bizet and Chopin to authors Proust and Balzac. A wander through the gravestones is almost a crash course in art history, and there are a few surprising overseas additions, including American playwright Gertrude Stein and Doors frontman Jim Morrison. Most famous of the lot, though, is Oscar Wilde’s tomb. It has become traditional for fans to kiss his headstone whilst wearing bright red lipstick.
Westminster Abbey, London
Right in the centre of London, this World Heritage-listed church is where Britain’s great and good are traditionally buried. A stroll round the tombstones becomes a who’s who of British history, with kings, queens and prime ministers all over the place. It’s not just people of power, though. David Livingstone, Charles Darwin, Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Dickens and Rudyard Kipling are all at peace in the Abbey.
St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City
Of all the mausoleums in the world, this is the biggest pilgrimage site, and the main building of the Vatican is home to the bodies of many deceased Popes, and Jesus’ chief disciple, Peter. Regarded as one of the holiest places in the world, the basilica took over two centuries to complete as the toils of the mortal world caught up with successive pontiffs. Given that the papacy is generally only given to those of an advance age, Popes were usually only in charge for a short time, meaning that each incoming Bishop of Rome would end up picking a new architect to oversee the project, and not an awful lot got done once until the bureaucracy had been cleared.
This article was originally written for Ninemsn.
Copyright David Whitley
