Ep. 17: The Theater of Death in Naples, Part 2

Beds sculpted out of the natural tufa serve as beds for the dead, while a painted Medusa head in the center of the room guards against evil spirits.

The second part of Episode 17 takes you inside the Ipogeo dei Cristallini, which has only been open to the public since 2022. Italy is full of tombs and catacombs, and while each one holds fascinating stories, I appreciate that it can be challenging to connect with archaeological sites like these, especially when compared to something more relatable, like the Colosseum. To bridge the gap, I’m offering you a deeply personal story about the secrets in my family’s mausoleum, which isn’t much different than the ancient Greek one on Via Cristallini.

Photo credit: Rita J. King

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00:00 Introduction: Brief recap of Part 1 of Episode 17 and Introduction to Ipogeo Cristallini

28:59 A Link To My Family History

29:21 Connecting People Across History

29:33 Archaeological Discoveries in the Ipogeo dei Cristallini, Including 700 Objects, and Bones

30:02 Rinascita (Rebirth)

30:09 Conclusion

Finally, if you’d like to watch the video reconstruction of the Ipogeo, it’s available on YouTube.

Brigida Oteri