Talk:Catacombs/Archive 1

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Archive 1

Etymology of 'Catacomb'

Last week on a visit to Rome I took a tour of the Catacombs at San Sebastiano, where the tour guide suggested an etymology alternative to that in the article. I can't remember the specifics, but it was something along the lines of 'Near the depression', referring to some form of subsidence or similar underneath the basilica where the first underground burials were made. This might be completely misleading, so I'll leave the article as it is unless anyone else can shed any light? mode_seven 16:16, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

Just found this page [1] linked to on the San Sebastiano page itself, seems to agree with what I was told. mode_seven 16:20, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

I think it's just a variation on the translation given here. Often one word can be used in different senses, so the Greek τυμβος can mean hole, hollow, depression, excavation, grave/tomb, depending on context. Likewise an adjectival prefix like the Greek κατα can have different meanings. The article gives the original meaning as "down" but the Late Latin translation has already shifted to "among", which is very similar to the San Sebastiano "near". So "near the hollow" = "among the tombs". The article sourced its definition from a dictionary of etymology, which is probably more accurate than a tourist information site, but you're welcome to edit the article if you think it's important. Canonblack 15:52, 18 June 2006 (UTC)

What is the latin form of 'tombs'? The note says it's 'tombs' again, but I guess it's 'tombos' or 'tombes' Pictureuploader

I just noticed this apparent error, as well. The highlighted words below are certainly not Latin, or if they're supposed to be, they're mis-spelled.

"The derivation is the Latin catacumbæ, from the phrase caca tombs (among the tombs), through metathesis and with attraction of -cumbere (to lie), from Greek κατα (down) and ultimately from Greek τυμβος (tomb) (1). From Chambers Dictionary of Etymology, Chambers (New York), 1988, ISBN 0-550-14230-4, see catacomb and tomb." -- JackofOz 00:08, 13 June 2007 (UTC)

Warcraft?

To my knowlege, there are no dungeons in WoW called "The Catacombs", instance or raid. The closest thing is an open area, not a dungeon, beneath a cemetary filled with hard to kill monsters called the "Dawning Woods Catacombs". 68.36.94.113

In popular culture

Computer and video games

Catacombs are a popular feature of many computer and video games due to their association with horror and the undead. Some of the more well-known game catacombs are listed below:

The Catacombs are a burial place outside Ashford Abbey in "pre-searing" Ascalon in Guild Wars Prophecies.
Catacombs are a common setting for the Tomb Raider series, particularly Tomb Raider 1 and Tomb Raider 2 with the Catacombs of the Talion.
In the Diablo series, catacombs and other burial grounds are frequent settings for the game's action. These typically include sarcophagi which the player can loot for treasure, and which often release undead enemies.
In Ultima VIII: Pagan of the Ultima series, the player must explore the catacombs as part of his quest.
The Catacombs feature in the computer game Deus Ex, whereby the player must navigate through the Paris catacomb network to escape the Majestic 12 antagonists.
In The Bard's Tale, one of the more advanced dungeons to be explored are the catacombs, involving three levels of progressively harder dungeons filled with roaming undead and other creatures.
In Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Level 5 took place in the Catacombs.
In Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, there are Catacombs which contain treasure, weapons, and undead monsters
In Doom 2, level 22 is called "The Catacombs" and consists of many small underground areas leading to a central above ground area.
In Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade, there is a place named "The Catacombs".
In LucasArt's Mysteries of the Sith, the final level is set in a massive catacomb.
In Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, there is an area in Dark Aether called "Catacombs".
In Final Fantasy XI a dungeon called "The Eldieme Necropolis" is used extensively for missions and quests. The lower section is riddled with catacombs.
In Castlevania: Curse of Darkness there is an optional stage within the Garibaldi Temple which can be accessed using the Devil Innocent Devil, wherein its soundtrack is entitled, "Catacombs of Grief and Sadness."
In Golden Sun: The Lost Age there are catacombs under the town of Madra. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Baker1000 (talk • contribs) 03:35, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

Film

Catacombs is a film starring Alecia Moore (aka Pink) due to release in 2007, which takes place in the Parisian catacombs.

In the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) and Dr. Elsa Schneider (Alison Doody) travel through the Catacombs in Venice while on a search for clues to the location of the Holy Grail.

In the film The Bunker, German soldiers trapped in a concrete bunker try to find an escape route through subterranean catacombs, where unspeakable evil lurks.

PLEASE NOTE. I was unable to verify the bulk of this material, much of which is dubious and all of which lacks any sort of reliable sources. The bulk of this material is desperately grasping at straws, trying to find any mention of a catacomb in a video game and tie it into the encyclopedia article on Catacombs. THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING AND WEIGHS DOWN THE ARTICLE. As a compromise measure I have moved it to the talk page so that it is not "lost" in the edit history shuffle. Please do not re-insert this material without providing the reliable sources deemed necessary by WP:V policy and carefully consider whether or not the material you are reinserting is going to be an improvement. Thank you, Burntsauce 17:12, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Those carved in alcoves

You know in large catacombs some bodies are stashed in the walls in vertical gaps, if you know what I mean what are the proper names for these areas of Catacombs?--86.146.59.101 (talk) 22:28, 20 March 2009 (UTC)

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