The Empire of Death: A Cultural History of Ossuaries and Charnel Houses by Paul Koudounaris Shells Historical photographs from the museum’s

Historical photographs from the museum’s archives

articulated skeleton mounted to a wooden base and protected under a removeable plexiglass case

the Guild's pocket guidebooks have helped hikers

and Hindu societies

The Empire of Death: A Cultural History of Ossuaries and Charnel Houses by Paul Koudounaris Shells Historical photographs from the museum’sFrom 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