What Does crypt Mean
Knowing the etymological origin of the term crypt is necessary in order to discover its meaning. In this case, we can state that it is a word that derives from Latin, exactly it comes from “crypta”, which was used to refer to an “excavation” or “underground gallery”. Word that, in turn, comes from the Greek, from "krypte".
The concept alludes to the underground site that was used for the burial of corpses .
Frequent in the Middle Ages , crypts used to be chambers that were found under churches . Even at times the temple construction was raised from the surface level so that the crypt would remain on the ground. Previously, the crypts were caves that were carved out of a rock.
Over time , the crypts began to be built into cemeteries . The function remained unchanged since its inception: in this type of places the remains of people are deposited. If the crypt is built above ground level, it is called a mausoleum .
An example of a crypt is the Royal Crypt of the El Escorial Monastery , whose origins date back to the 7th century . It has twenty-six tombs made with marble that contain the bodies of Spanish monarchs belonging to the Austrian and Bourbon dynasties .
The Crypt of San Antolín , for its part, is located below the Cathedral of Palencia . The place is consecrated to San Antolín , the patron saint of Palencia , housing his remains .
In the same way, there are other important crypts that are worth discovering and seeing in situ. This would be the case, for example, of the crypt of the Cathedral of Cádiz. That was built in the first half of the 18th century, specifically around the year 1732.
In oyster stone, the one that has a circular appearance was made and that stands out because it houses the tombs of two of the most illustrious sons of the city. We are referring to the writer José María Pemán (1898 - 1981) and the composer Manuel de Falla (1876 - 1946).
Finally, “Tales from the Crypt” is the title of a TV series known as “Cuentos de la cripta” in Latin America and as “Historias de la cripta” in Spain . Its chapters are based on comics created by William Maxwell Gaines for EC Comics . "Tales from the Crypt" aired between 1989 and 1996 .
One of the most important novels of 20th century Spanish literature also carries the term that concerns us in its title. We are referring to "The Mystery of the Haunted Crypt", which was written by Eduardo Mendoza and published in 1978.
He comes to narrate the mysterious disappearance of a girl in a boarding school in Barcelona. Commissioner Flores, inspector of the Criminal Investigation Brigade, will be in charge of solving the case and finding the minor's whereabouts. To do this, he will decide to have the help of a criminal who is admitted to an asylum.