Chimpanzees

Similar mourning behaviors to humans have been seen by primate researchers often unintentionally. Both gorillas and chimpanzees and other non-human primates have displayed distinctly observable mourning and grieving behaviors and patterns. Here we’ll be focusing specifically on chimpanzees. Chimpanzees often share in the same care patterns of humans in how they care for those dying in their community. Often, grooming practices which are essential to chimpanzee socialization are taken up by other members who also care for the cleanliness of dying chimps. Healthy chimps are also known to stay by the side of those dying. Some chimpanzees even carry the deceased with them for some time after their death. While the reasoning behind this is unknown, it suggests that chimps similarly grieve and mourn for some time. It is clear, that while not human, chimpanzees do comprehend death and experience, in some form, the mourning and grief associated with it

Crows

Crows are fairly unique in their mourning and ritualistic presentation which is highlighted through their social nature where gatherings of crows act as a form of funeral for the deceased.When a crow finds the corpse of one of its murder, they tend to alert others through an alarm like song that lets others in the area know. Crows will not touch the corpse but instead, will surround it and caw and lean in to inspect the body. Interestingly, unlike humans, crows do not differentiate between those specifically in their murder, although some observations suggest they can. Instead, they hold “crow funerals” for any of the dead of their species that they come across. According to some researchers, these funerals can even act as a form of teaching that socializes other crows into the patterns and rites surrounding the dead. While no specific burial practices have been observed, crows are a good example of animals who comprehend and process death.

Elephants

Elephants are perhaps the best-known examples of animals that mourn and have associated rituals. These mighty creatures have been observed experiencing significant behavioral changes after the death of one of their own. Elephants can be somewhat more unpredictable, however in their responses. But they do have some commonly seen mourning practices and rituals. For example, large groups of elephants will visit the corpse of the deceased elephant due to their highly social nature creating a funeral of sorts. Elephants, like chimpanzees, build significant bonds that can last through their entire lifetime. One way elephants display further responses and mourning rituals is by surrounding the deceased elephant and trying to awaken it while vocalizing and protecting the remains. Elephants have also been known to try and help others near death to stand up on their own and to stay with them as they approach their end. Some elephants, particularly those who have experienced the loss of their young, have even stayed with the corpse while it is eaten by scavenger animals such as hyenas.

Dolphins and Whales

Dolphins have been known to share different similarities to humans and have interacted quite heavily with us. While whales and dolphins are different creatures, they have some similar forms of mourning rituals associated with dealing with the dead. One reason for the similarity to human rituals exists in the fact that both dolphins and whales have large brains relative to body size! Some differences in the way in which these animals attend to their dead exist based on their sex which will determine which member of the pod will attend to the dead and dying. It is said that both dolphins and whales have both physical responses to death through mourning and an emotional grief. Researchers have observed both dolphins and whales continuing to maintain close contact with deceased pod members as a means of watching over them. Often times, these pods will work together to keep the corpse afloat and communicate through varied forms of communication, namely clicking and whistling, that audibly differs to the vocality used in relation to the living members of the pod. These changes reflect the emotional distress present upon the death of a pod member and affirm that grief is not a solely an innately human sentiment. The babies of mother dolphins and whales who have died are often supported by the wider pod which emphasizes a distinct sense of connection and understanding regarding death, kinship and the maintenance of social bonds and protection of the weak.

The Hanging Coffins of Sagada – The Philippines

While this tradition can be seen in a few other areas globally, the hanging coffins of Sagada are perhaps some of the boldest examples of this tradition. The wooden coffins of the indigenous Kankanaey people hang from the sides of cliffs in Echo Valley, Sagada. These coffins are usually carved by the deceased themselves before inhabiting their new home. Once they die, their coffin is either stacked in a cave, such as in the Lumiang Cave nearby or suspended from a cliff face. The Kanakaney people believe that this tradition brings the deceased closer to the afterlife and their ancestors thus aiding their ascent to the next world.

Merry Cemetery – Sapanta, Romania

This colorful, vibrant cemetery is one that continues to enchant visitors for the great magnitude of ornate decorations that adorn these graves. Each internment is provided a hand-carved gravestone with inscriptions ranging from short to lengthy depictions of the deceased’s life to how they died more specifically. These inscriptions range from being positive and reflective to negative and directed towards who or what killed the deceased. Some even have poems written either to honor the dead’s qualities or the life they lived.

Okunoin Cemetery – Kōya, Wakayama, Japan

This cemetery is unique for the great deal of graves that it houses approximately a quarter of a million graves. By far the largest cemetery in Japan, this burial ground is so sought after as it is home to the final resting place of Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism who is said to be eternally meditating awaiting the future Buddha. Followers of this branch of Buddhism believe that the closer they are buried to Daishi, the more likely they’ll achieve eternal salvation with the coming of the future Buddha. While this cemetery is home to many long departed, it is also home to a great deal of ornate statues, lanterns and other symbolic offerings to Daishi which add to its mystique.

Neptune Memorial Reef – Key Biscayne, Florida, United States

Perhaps best known both for its quirky burial practice and for being the eternal home of acclaimed American chef Julia Child, the Neptune Memorial Reef is a manmade reef where the deceased can become interwoven with the present aquatic life. Whilst this is a unique creation in that this form of burial at sea is achieved through the mixing of ashes with concrete to form this reef, it serves as a way to benefit both sea-life and the preservation of local species.

Fagg El Gamous – Faiyum Governorate, Egypt

This burial ground dates from the first to the seventh centuries, and was created during Roman control of Egypt. Over a million mummies are estimated to be buried in this cemetery with most of its dead buried without coffins or any grave treasures as one might expect from mummies in Egypt. Fagg El Gamous is a cemetery used by low-status inhabitants of Egypt who couldn’t afford the funeral rituals of the pharaohs. However, some of the graves present from the latter period of this cemetery’s active usage may have also be adherents to the Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Judiaism and potentially early converters to Islam. Archaeologists have not ascertained why so many corpses were buried here as the quantity of bodies seems to suggest foreign burial inclusion as well.

Greyfriars Kirkyard – Edinburgh, Scotland

This graveyard is notorious for its widespread use of grave protection devices that were popularized throughout the late medieval and renaissance period. Mortsafes were used for a variety of reasons including: preventing grave robbers from exhuming the deceased, protecting the deceased from those who had nefarious ideas for the corpse and in some cases, a fear of reanimation of the departed. While this graveyard is a famous tourist attraction it is also full of stunning memorials and graves that allow the visitor to peek into a distant past.

New Lucky Restaurant – Ahmedabad, India

Whilst this location isn’t quite your traditional cemetery, this restaurant exists atop a burial site and proudly advertises it! With a variety of open sarcophagi dotted between the tables, this restaurant is sure to make for a macabre, quirky and fascinating dining experience. Although no one is sure who these graves belong to, their existence is approximated to be over 450 years old with some linking these graves to followers of a Sufi Muslim holy person. Ironically, this eatery’s owner claims that it is “lucky” to eat with the dead and even suggests that the dead have been a source of positive energy which has helped the business. A strange concept indeed!

[image of Merry Cemetery by Aw58 — CC BY-SA 3.0]

These mummified bodies are found in peat bogs typically found in northern and north-western Europe, with varying degrees of preservation present.

Arcane Examples

While most ancient human remains no longer have skin and internal organs due to decay, bog bodies typically retain them due to a combination of highly acidic water, low temperature, and a lack of oxygen that preserve skin while heavily tanning it. While the skin of bog bodies tends to be very well preserved, their bones are not due to the acidity from the peat. This has allowed archaeologists to discover everything from tools, wood and leather whose richness in keratin has allowed them to be preserved for, in some cases, thousands of years. In normal human decomposition, typically only teeth and bones remain unless specifically preserved, so this allows for us modern humans to peer into the murky window of the past.

The oldest known bog body is the skeleton of the Koelbjerg Man in Denmark. The Koelbjerg man has been carbon dated to 8000 BCE. The oldest bog body with substantial remaining flesh is the Cashel Man, dated to 2000 BCE from the Bronze Age.

Theories

Iron Age bog bodies show many similarities, including violent deaths and a lack of clothing, which has led archaeologists to believe that they were killed and left in the bogs as a part of widespread cultural traditions of human sacrifice and death rituals surrounding local cultures within these areas of Europe. Some have also speculated that this was a dishonorable form of burial for executed criminals. A more fringe anthropological and archaeological theory suggests that the bogs could have been viewed as connected to the afterlife or viewed as a necessary step in the passing between this life and the next. Contemporary theories suggest that the bogs may have been deemed as contaminated areas where decay was best placed to protect the living.

Historical Context

It is estimated that agricultural practices were introduced to the region of modern-day Denmark around 3900 BCE. During the early part of this Neolithic period, some human corpses began to be placed in the peat bogs, which have been confirmed through carbon and archaeological means of testing. Interestingly a majority of the bodies found from this period were between the ages of 16 and 20 when they died, which suggests that age-specific human sacrifices or indeed, wrongdoings may have been a major contributor affirming the aforementioned criminal theory.

However, a significant majority of the bodies discovered hail from the Iron Age where peat bogs were vaster and more present in northern Europe. These Iron Age bodies also shared similarities such as the items they were buried with reaffirming the belief that a cultural tradition existed in the burial and ritual sacrifice of at least some of these bodies. Examples include rings, general jewelry, and specific clothes for the dead, typically made of bronze. Some historical accounts do make note of slaves being drowned and buried alive although these are harder corroborate.

Evidence of violence from stabbings to strangling and beheadings were also evident such as with the Osterby Man found at Kohlmoor, near Osterby, Germany in 1948, found without a head. Differing examples suggest that certain groups and tribes placed their dead in the bogs without clothes while others did. Other examples of violence include the Tollund Man from Denmark, who was found with the rope used to strangle him still around his neck. The Yde Girl, found in the Netherlands was also found similarly. Archaeologists have also pointed to the pressure of the peat bogs and their weight on bodies, which influenced our view of some injuries in the contemporary era.

So, what do you think of the bog bodies? Do you think that ritual sacrifice or simply common burial resulted in the mystifying remains that we have found today or, do you think that this practice simply happened by chance?

For our American readers, you only have to look to the south west where a handful of cases still emerge yearly. Thankfully, with decades of scientific development and painstaking medical work, this disease can now be treated and has a mortality rate of just 10% with treatment. Let’s explore three historical outbreaks of the Plague.

Persia & The Gulf

Historical records suggest that the plague was first encountered in what is now modern-day Iran around 543 CE through its spread from Italy and the Roman Empire’s army before spreading to  the Persian Empire when the two were at war. Subsequent outbreaks in the following century saw tens of thousands die with over 100,000 dying near the Sassanian capital of Ctesiphon, close to the  modern day Iraqi capital of Baghdad. For centuries to come, several notable waves of the Plague ravaged the area. The plague reemergence of 688-689 CE saw over 70,000 people become victims of this invasive disease. Interestingly, the Plague was responsible for the eventual immobilization of Persian armies for generations which ultimately allowed for the swift conquest of Persia by the Muslims during the seventh century.

Notable instances throughout the Gulf in the last 500 years illustrate that the threat lingers even if presumably out of sight, but most certainly not out of mind. The Plague outbreak of 1773 in Kuwait affirms this and the 1831 outbreak saw over 60% of the Kuwaiti population lost. As recently as the 1990s, a handful of cases in Jordan and Saudi Arabia arose, with the consumption of camel meat cited as a factor in both cases.

Western Asia & North Africa

The “Black Death” pandemic emerged in Asia through the Silk-road trade route beginning in the far east. Modern theories are centered around changing climate influences which forced rodents, and the fleas that spread this toxic bacterium, to migrate farther west. Although no singular explanation is universally accepted, virologists, epidemiologists, and other scientific professionals, tend to agree on this theory due to biological evidence and the length and heavy usage of the trade route both to and from Asia.

In Asia, this disease also spread through warfare. The Mongol Horde, who was suffering from the disease, would catapult corpses over the besieged city of Crimea 1346-47 in an effort to take the city through the infecting of its population. Unfortunately, this meant that many would ultimately spread the disease farther.

Warfare and trade were arguably the sole driving causes of this contagion reaching Alexandria by the fall of 1347. The plague swiftly spread throughout the Islamic world and despite the great deal of medicinal action, medieval hospitals, and policy used to contain the Plague, the disease could not be contained and eventually decimated the populations of the Eastern Roman Empire and those throughout the Levant.

Modern day Tunisia and Morocco also suffered greatly with the plague reaching these areas by the spring of 1348.

Europe

Medieval Europe faced an onslaught of Plague waves over 1347-1353 with successive waves reaching ever farther into the continent and its isolated areas. From Alpine villages to seldom explored areas of the Baltic region, and the furthest vestiges of modern-day Great Britain, the Plague left no home unscarred. The worst wave of the Plague is said to have originated from the Italian island of Sicily through merchants traveling by boat; by the summer of 1348, few areas of the continent, bar much of modern-day northern Russia, had not been ruthlessly attacked. By 1351, even the most northerly bastions of Europe had been overrun.

Notably, English depictions of the Black Death have been preserved well with examples of some of the healing remedies used at the time including the use of sweet spices and herbs used to block the Plague’s transmission through the air. The belief that the Plague was transmissible by “Bad Air” is particularly intriguing as it highlights the shift in human thinking as to what is transmissible. An estimated 50 million lost their lives throughout the Black Death period in medieval Europe.

[image: chromolithograph of flagellants in Netherlands 1349.]

Created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, American Horror Story is a horror anthology television series that began in 2011 and has now gained a cult following.

The viewer is presented with an opening scene set in 1834 New Orleans with Madame La Laurie; a French immigrant of high society obsessed with eternal youth. From the very start, the viewer is presented with the macabre world created by the gruesome mind of Lalaurie, played by Kathy Bates. Soon after she coats her face in blood, we are presented with the terrifying attic where she enacts her torture in aid of her experimentation and obsession with eternal life. This scene, while grotesque, not only sets the tone for this series at large, but also reflects on a real-life woman whose cruelty, up until the 1834 fire of her mansion, went undetected.

Murphy and Falchuk then take us through to the modern era were an aged Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau begins to wreak havoc as the battle between the witch coven, led by reigning “Supreme” Fiona Goode (Jessica Lange), and the Voodoo Queen begins to unfold. The unearthing of the buried alive La Laurie begins season three’s descent into a battle of the supernatural where the two enemies ultimately become partners.

Without giving away too many spoilers, what is most poignant about this season is its tackling of historical abuse of slaves in the American deep south. Murphy and Falchuk are no stranger to tackling controversy and sensitive topics and this is reflected through Lalaurie’s abuse of her daughter for fooling around with a slave, and the dynamics of Louisiana’s elite society.

Both Goode and Laveau’s obsession with staying alive and the desire to be immortal take them on a path of self-destruction. The former, a terminal cancer patient willing to stay alive at all costs, even by trading her soul with Papa Legba, a Voodoo god, reflects on the philosophical and existential fear of death and the embrace of the unknown. The latter emphasizes how sometimes, getting what you want means hurting others beyond measure. This is evidenced through Laveau’s yearly collections with the Voodoo god, one of which sees her abduct and handover “the soul of an innocent”-a newborn-  in order to maintain her immortality.

The powers of the young coven also create much drama throughout the series with shenanigans such as the reanimation of a dead lover and the use of natural warfare through the raising of the dead, and the utility of different plants, adds depth to this series. From pyrokinesis to Ouija boards, the viewer is presented an occult feast, along with an array of gore through flashbacks such as with the Axe-man. Set in the late 1910s, the Axe-man would prey on women murdering them with an Axe. In Coven, he is murdered after the then coven goaded him into what he believed to be his next killing-spree. 

Further, after fighting between the Voodoo coven and that of the witches comes to a head, the two bridge their differences and turn to their real enemy; the family of Fiona Goode’s son in-law Hank. Her unsuspecting daughter, Cordelia Foxx (Sarah Paulson), is forced to reckon with the destructive nature of her husband’s witch-hunter family and their desire to “rid the world” of all witches. Ironically, Laveau intended to exploit this manipulation in an effort to kill off the “white witches” which ultimately backfired and leads to their collaboration.

While both Goode and Laveau end up dying and reawakening in an after-life where they are forced to pay for their sins, wanton callousness, and destruction, Foxx ends up leading the coven and welcoming a great multitude of women all possessing the attributes of a witch and descending from those women who escaped Salem and the descendants of those that did not. I still rewatch this season of American Horror Story every Halloween as it is a masterpiece of contemporary television that is multi-faceted, well-crafted and engages the viewer with each and every peculiar twist and turn. A must watch!

Beetlejuice (1988)

A classic for 80s movie enthusiasts, Beetlejuice is an eccentric, blood-curdling comedy that puts a sardonic spin on this macabre narrative. Directed by Tim Burton, Beetlejuice takes us through the lives of a recently deceased couple whose tranquil afterlife is disturbed by the arrival of a new, living, family to their home. In desperation, they enlist the help of a ghost “Beetlejuice.” As the movie progresses, they come to question the utility of their newly found apparition, realizing his antics are not what they seem. If you’re into costume makeup, then Beetlejuice will be right up your alley as it won the Academy Award for Best Makeup!

Death at a Funeral (2007)

In this black comedy, directed by Frank Oz, Daniel, played by Matthw McFayden, decides to take on funeral planning when his father dies. This includes paying for his brother’s flight expenses to writing his father’s eulogy by himself when he wasn’t even supposed to deliver it. A frantic Daniel ends up dealing with a plethora of hiccups that while comedic, affirm how sometimes life, as in death, does not go to plan!

She Never Died (2019)

Directed by Audrey Cummings, She Never Died, centers on a socially-outcast woman, Lacey. She lives on the social fringes of society and saves a woman from being killed by eating a human trafficker. Devouring him is only the start of a lengthy process to deal with the many human trafficking rings that exist within the city. Despite beginning her quest on her own, Lacey begins to gain support for her battle against these traffickers. A satirical flare works well to contrast the melancholic grey of this witty, evocative movie.

Knives Out (2019)

Directed by Rian Johnson, Knives Out takes a modern approach to the murder mystery with wry comedy and sardonic inclusions centered on contemporary issues from immigration to family dynamics. After the death of Harlan Thrombey, his family rely on the criminal expertise of detective Benoit Blanc, played by none other than Daniel Craig (the James Bond of the 2000s). An arduous interrogation process is drawn out by the many contrasting personalities and influences that give this movie a tinge of realism that further complicates Blanc’s process.

Death Becomes Her (1992)

Death Becomes Her takes on the many supernatural ramifications of cheating death. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, this dark comedy presents the wide swing between the macabre and comical while making use of robust dark humor. Notable motifs include the nature of aging and beauty. Audiences are treated to the interactions of two vain rivals who discover an otherworldly potion that promises eternal youth. Their vanity and self-obsession ultimately leads them on a journey of dark rivalry and immortality influenced by their shared love interest, Ernest Melville. Death Becomes Her makes use of the idea that beauty isn’t merely about looks, but also what is inside.

In Bruges (2008)

Directed by Martin McDonagh, this dark crime comedy is about two hitmen grappling with a host of existential ruminations, exiled to the city of Bruges in Belgium. This captivating narrative goes beyond the confines of the genre by exploring guilt, the consequences of life and death decisions and morality and its perception. Philosophical and existential undertones give added depth to the story of two men hiding out in an idyllic Belgian city. In Bruges is a great example of how the witty and criminal, the sardonic and lethal can meld together, creating an impactful, nuanced movie.

Ghost Town (2008)

Directed by Davie Koepp, this otherworldly comedy, places the reader at the heart of a supernatural narrative where a reclusive dentist; Bertrum Pincus suffers a near death experience and begins to be able to communicate with the dead around him. Bertrum becomes overwhelmed with lost souls seeking guidance to solve their earthly problems and ascend to the light. This leaves Bertrum seeking any form of distraction as he ultimately begins to help the widow of one spirit. While comedic and death centered, I enjoyed Ghost Town because it reflected on the “what if” nature of the hereafter and the potential for one’s soul to linger amid unfinished business.

Burials have always occupied a central space in human existence whether in relation to simple kinship, royalty, and religious beliefs. Therefore, is it any wonder that burial and funeral practices vary so much globally? From dancing with the deceased to burials in the sky, feast your eyes on five unique burial practices that will intrigue you from across the globe.

Famadihana – Madagascar

Famadihana is a funeral tradition of the Malagasy people of Madagascar. During this ceremony a process titled the “turning of the bones” ensues where the bodies of deceased relatives are removed from familial crypts and rewrapped in layers of fresh cloth while rewriting the relative’s name on the cloth to signify that they will always be remembered. After this process has been completed, families will dance while carrying the corpses overhead and around the crypt to live music before replacing them within the crypt. This practice is now generally viewed as cultural than religious by the Catholic and Protestant Christian majority of Madagascar.

Sky Burial – Tibet

Sky Burial is a burial practice that shares similarities with traditional Zoroastrian burial processes. This form of burial involves leaving a corpse on a mountaintop to decompose and be stripped bare of its flesh by scavengers such as vultures. Further, through the elemental decay from weather, the corpse is reduced to bones. This practice stems from the Vajrayana Buddhist belief that the body is merely a vessel for the soul and therefore, in death the corpse has no value but to return to the natural world both through consumption and a literal return to the Earth. This burial practice was also borne out of necessity due to the rocky mountainous nature of the area which rendered ground burial difficult.

Tower of Silence – Zoroastrianism (Iran)

Zoroastrianism is an arcane religion predating the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, Islam). A burial tradition that was once of great importance to Zoroastrians was centered on the belief that corpses were essentially toxic. This meant that they defiled anything they touched and as a result, raising corpses into the sky to be devoured by vultures was the only viable solution. This resulted in corpses being placed in a circular tower where their flesh was picked clean by vultures after the body had been washed in bulls urine and the clothes were removed by disposable tools. This method ensured that the living would not be tainted by the corpses decaying and being devoured in a tower out of sight.

Jazz Funerals – New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

This funeral practiced is the result of a fusion of cultural influences in Louisiana with French Creole, broadly African and Voodoo practices that have culminated into a burial where jazz plays throughout. In this practice, a procession of mourners will escort the corpse from a church or home to the cemetery. En route, live music is played, typically by a full band, where mournful songs are played. This then changes to more upbeat songs after the body has been surrendered to the grave. Usually, colorful outfits and sometimes fans and signs accompany mourners along their route.

Cambodian Funeral Rituals

In Cambodia, the immediate family of the deceased is responsible for the cleansing of the corpse. The corpse is then dressed in a coffin for three days, before being taken to the crematorium by the entire funeral procession. During this procession, mourners, usually consisting of family and Buddhist monks and elders, often shave their heads as symbol of their grief while wearing white. White is the traditional color of morning in Cambodia. Cambodian belief dictates that any alteration to the body or embalming is a desecration of the body. They deem these unnatural acts as a hindrance to the soul’s journey after dying and ultimately, rebirth. After cremation, the ashes of the deceased remain in a Buddhist temple so that resident monks may guide the souls into their new life.

Having experienced the mystery and fear surrounding this mountain range, I can say that strange figures and freak storms appear out of nowhere. Apache lore states that the entrance to descend to the “lower world” or hell is deep within this mountain range. Numerous hikers have disappeared. In 2011 some human remains were found while others remain lost to these rugged mountains. Hundreds have gone in search of hidden gold over the years and lost their lives as a result but local Native Americans continue to dissuade curious visitors every year. Most recently, Khayman Welch wandered off for a walk disappeared without trace and the search for his remains is still on going.

Westward Ho is still visited by thrill-seeking paranormal enthusiasts who aim to find the ghost of a woman in a bright red dress that roams the buildings floors. Residents and visitors have reported hearing loud conversations and music from the 1940s and 50s from empty rooms at random through the night.

Hotel San Carlos presents us with an even stranger account of ghostly sightings. Leone Jensen, who committed suicide soon after the hotel’s grand opening is said to haunt guests who awake in terror. Others have also committed suicide in the hotel leading to the belief that a collection of apparitions live in this hotel exacting their retribution by placing fear in many guests who stay. Further, having been built on the site of a former school, numerous visitors have reported hearing child-like laughter and talking throughout their stays at this hotel.

The Arizona State Prison Complex has been the focus of numerous haunting stories. With numerous death sentences carried out since 1910, is it any wonder that that both inmates and officers have witnessed a multitude of instances of ghoulish screams, strange howls and mists that appear in human form staring on at onlookers? Particular attention should be paid to the area surrounding the death chamber where onlookers have spoken of otherworldly sightings.

The Estrella Jail, an all-female jail in the state’s capital, Phoenix is known for paranormal activity, violence and rumored deaths. Famously, an officer reported seeing a man in the cell block alongside loud pounding on the control room door and a furious inmate that looked on at him with “demonic, black eyes”. Reports of attacks and a paranormal entity known to those working there as “The Sergeant” have also been mentioned. Despite the jail’s history, it continues to be active.

The Hotel Congress is over 100 years old and is known to locals as a dwelling where numerous former residents, now long departed, continue to reside throughout the hotel, and its service areas. One ghost in particular is that of Vince who spent over 36 years living at the hotel before his death. Many visitors claim to still see him inhabiting the hotel’s bar area as if continuing to live on despite his earthly remains being no longer.

Founded in 1886, this theater is home to numerous spritely ghosts that often engage with performers and their audiences. Most notably, Maddie, a ghost that appears as a young girl who is typically spotted in the mezzanine. She is known for her mischievousness and is said to quiet down loud spectators and even disapprove of certain behaviors should they be disruptive to the audience. Some theater goers have experienced other apparitions that are less friendly and more frightening with shoves, growls and even moans said to be heard on occasion.

The town of Tombstone is known for massive gun-fights and battles between cowboys throughout the 1800s including the infamous O.K. Corral shootout. This theater is no exception to ravages of violence and gore of the time; it is still said to be inhabited by numerous ghosts who lost their life at the theater and on its grounds. With 16 different gun battles, many claim to see cowboys lurking in the shadows and bloodied phantoms peering out on unsuspecting tourists who speak of eerie fear and anxiety whilst visiting. Some say demonic spirits also inhabit this theater to absorb the darkness of such wanton death.

The Blood House – De Gijsbert Dumber Huis

Known far and wide, this Amsterdam canal house’s notoriety stems from the 1600s where a skilled statesman and several-time Mayor of Amsterdam, Coenraad van Beuningen went insane. In his final years, Beuningen began to isolate in the house and began painting the walls in elaborate Kabalistic and satanic signs all in his own blood. Quite miraculously, all floors and walls were eventually coated in the sanguine excess of the once powerful man. Some have speculated that rumors of the use of his blood were exaggerated. However, some first-hand accounts of those known to him suggest otherwise. Keen observers can still see some of the heavily faded magenta on the outside of the property.

De Waag & Bloedstraat – Blood Street, Nieuwmarkt

An arcane building from the 15^th century that was once a weigh house, and is now a restaurant, was also once home to unfathomable suffering, death and torture. During the 17^th century, De Waag was the site of infamous Dutch witch trials. Notably, it was almost entirely women who learnt their fate at De Waag despite men also being accused of being a part of the occult. Paranormal activity from creepy sensations to fleeting ghosts still haunt the building with numerous visitors picking up on the spirits that remain long after their brutal ends.

Nieuwmarkt became synonymous with executions, torture and death as the centuries have worn on. Blood Street is known for two main reasons. Firstly, it is believed to be haunted by the many prisoners executed nearby whose blood would drain onto this street. Further, it is a street where planned slayings of heretics would begin in earnest by way of the Duke of Alba. This macabre history makes Nieuwmarkt a site of unthinkable carnage and its planning.

Ghost Alley – Spooksteeg

Hellena, the daughter of a tanner in the 18^th century, fell in love with a sailor who was in love with her sister Dina. Unrequited love became fury as Hellena killed her sister by throwing her into their cellar. Hellena was able to cover this up as an accident and later went on to marry the sailor she had been so enamored with. On her deathbed, she told him of her misdeeds and in a fury, he cursed her to roam the street for eternity. On the 100^th year anniversary of her death, locals claim to have heard screams late into the night. Local legend still says that Hellena roams the street deep into the night.

The Amstel Hotel

This luxury hotel has been operating since 1867 and is known for its five-star luxury. However, many guests have reported seeing a ghostly women dressed in a white gown roaming the rooms and corridors. It is believed to be that of a former chambermaid named Doris who worked at the hotel in the early 1900s and fell in love with a wealthy guest who promised her much but ultimately gave little. After he did not return, Doris was heartbroken and committed suicide by jumping off the hotel’s roof. Doris is said to occasionally appear to guests who have reported cries and wails alongside random disturbances and indeed, sightings of this heartbroken spirit late into the night.

The Weeping Tower – De Schreierstoren

A part of the original city wall, The Weeping Tower became a bastion of defense for the city in the late 15^th century. In the 1500s a woman named Trijn Jacobs lived in the tower with her sailor husband. After going off to voyage one day he never returned and eventually, whilst weeping, Trijn jumped from the top of the tower to her death. Many visitors have reported eerie moans, crying and unexpected noises even with no one else present. Perhaps even more gruesome was that this tower so many thousands of soldiers, explorers and migrants leave to never return or die in the process.

Let’s begin with this riveting semi-holiday themed episode, packed with vibrant internal imagery that animates the body in new and unexpected ways from organ-based exhibitions to activities and even a food court. Perhaps most gruesome is the eventual state of the recently deceased body of a friend of Rick’s. This cadaver becomes host to all manner of diseases from Hepatitis A and B to Tuberculosis and E-Coli. This leads to the ultimate death of multiple members of the crew in charge of maintaining anatomy park. Once outside of this cadaver, it is enlarged and floats above the Earth before exploding dousing the continental United States in a slurry of snow and crimson downpour.

A sentient gaseous cloud is held as a weapon of mass destruction in space and is freed by the ever curious and naïve Morty, despite the protestations of Rick. This cloud becomes named Fart due to its enjoyment of the sound of this word. Fart goes on to cause mass destruction in the name of assisting both Rick and Morty against Gearhead and the Gear people police. Finally, once escaped from the carnage of this mechanical world, Fart goes on to speak of the plans of its people to unify the galaxy through the destruction of carbon life forms due to their lack of what they perceive to be “maturity.” Despite countless deaths, wanton destruction, and ultimate sacrifice, Morty decides to kill Fart to ensure the protection of carbon-based life forms across the galaxy and beyond. Sometimes, the needs and indeed, lives of the many, are more important than the one gaseous cloud.

In this startling episode, the team behind Rick and Morty take you through the potential for coitus between worlds. Rick ends up engaging in planetary intercourse, leading to what they believe is the release of rounds of many thousands of Rick-Gaia (the planet) children, released with fervor from the bowels of the planet. Eventually, after many die upon ejection, Rick and Beth begin to construct a metropolis in the hope of creating a hybrid civilization. This eventually leads to the real father of the children arriving in the sky. A god, a Zeus, a celestial being is how this entity is referred to who then begins a biblically-styled war with Jerry leading his army. This leads to great casualties and the eventual eruption of Gaia through mass volcanic activity, slaughtering her children and forcing the Smith-Sanchez family to retreat. This episode toys with nature and death while offering the reader a gory yet thought provoking experience that asks the viewer to contend with why some parents kill in all species and throughout history.

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This episode begins with Morty and Summer, ever the high-schoolers obsessed with status, popularity and being “in.” In order to impress their latest obsession, Bruch Chutback, they decide to take a careless joyride on Rick’s ship. After some difficulty overcoming the ship’s AI, they go on a petrifying spree of violence slaughtering “female and male Mailboxians,” a group of mail-box creatures, as well as a mass killing in “lake space Tahoe” after the ship had retaken control. This episode touches on the perils of seeking popularity and reminds the reader of the old adage, curiosity killed the cat.

A daring Thanksgiving where the Smith-Sanchez family are isolated in a US Army mandated “Shimmer” bubble in an effort to prevent Rick and Morty from exiting the house after Morty destroys the US constitution and activates an assassin in the Statue of Liberty. Naturally, Rick’s technology leads to the absolute earthly annihilation of a soldier early on but Rick doesn’t stop there. After concocting a plan to gain a Presidential Pardon as a turkey, his plan goes awry as the now “turkey-fied” president accidentally loses his tracking device and another turkey is instead re-humanized. This leads to the first ever American turkey president who ends up waging war against Rick, Morty and the now “re-humanized” President. This leads to the destruction of the Washington Monument and the deaths of hundreds of hybrid turkey-human soldiers, human soldiers, and civilians. This episode by far, reflects a great depth of thought surrounding US history, the fragility between gratefulness and sacrifice and indeed, the presentation of death and difference between humans and turkeys. More broadly, animals.

I’d like to preface this by saying that Kuwait and all Gulf states mentioned are Gulf-Arab states ruled by a sheikhdom or kingdom system of governance.  Much of these extraordinary stories are linked to the dominant and national religions of Sunni-Islam.

The Ahmadi Ghost Fires — Kuwait

Beginning in 2004, a family in the Ahmadi Governorate, south of Kuwait City began to experience frequent fires at the exact same time daily, five in the morning and evening. These fires began in the fifth month of the year. These regular fires have led to local fire services being called over 40 times in the six years since the family had moved in. A Sheikh (Muslim Scholar) has claimed that the house is inhabited by disturbed Jinn. This theory has been advanced by local fire services finding no culprit nor reason for these unexplained fires.

With regular occurrences that ebb and flow in severity, the family began residing in the one room where no fires would start. Local folklore has often gossiped about laughing, conversations and wailing be heard with the eruption of these fires. However, the latter cannot be confirmed.

The Lord of the Sea — Qatar & Wider Arabian Gulf

Centered on a water Jinn (invisible creatures in early religion within pre-Islamic Arabia and later, seen in Islamic beliefs and culture) named Bu Darya. This is a Jinn that terrorizes sailors and traditionally, pearl divers (a profession once common in the Gulf). Bu Darya is said to be an enormous hybrid human-amphibian who preys on those out at sea. A great deal of pearl divers, sailors, and even foreign merchants believed in the existence of Bu Darya and were said to take special precautions in case of a chance encounter with the Lord of the Arabian Gulf.

However, a few distinct versions of this Jinn and his blood-curdling hijinks stand out from the various iterations of this folklore. In one version of the myth, Bu Darya sneaks aboard unsuspecting ships at night under the cloak of the saline obsidian before scurrying off with crew members stolen to be devoured. In some stories, this gruesome creature would sink the ship. These stories led to a night watch aboard the vast majority of ships well into the 20^th century in fear of being overcome by the mysterious Bu Darya.

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In other versions, wailing much like that of the mythical siren have been reported in haunting accounts of men sunken in the shallow waters of the Arabian Gulf. Curious, naive voyagers who answered these calls would face their swift demise. Should an entire ship respond to this wailing, then its cargo would be looted and thrown overboard while in most cases, the ship would be sunk. In this version, it is only possible to escape this wailing and repel the covert advances of Bu Darya through the repetition of Qur’anic verses.

Another widely shared version focuses less on Bu Darya directly and places greater emphasis on the hidden dangers and realities of the open sea unknown. This version is typically presented through a moralistic bent that emphasizes a metaphoric reconciliation between religious faith and cultural folklore whilst intertwining the necessity of always being alert when at sea.

Al Bahla — Oman

According to generations of locals Jinn lurk in Bahla, a still, mostly desolate town southwest of Muscat in Al-Dakiliya governorate. A grandiose imposing archway supposedly built in one night by a Jinn is just one example of the arcane ornamentation that is shrouded in mystery and lore. This town was allegedly built by two sisters, both Jinn, with one building the wall for protection while the other created an irrigation system for agriculture.

In this ancient town, stories of men transforming into animals and creatures unforgettable is rife. From fire breathing hyenas to animal disturbances in the middle of the night. This town’s folklore has left it isolated due to its reputation. Still shunned by some Omanis, this town is a glimpse into ancient Arabia but also, the age-old stories of Jinn activity and prevalent in pre Islamic and Islamic Arabia.

Jinn continue to be a source of fascination, fear and focus in the study and discussion of folklore in the Gulf and beyond. With so many stories of Jinn including those more famous in One Thousand and One Nights, is it any wonder why so many believe in their existence?

The novel is centered around Torben Helle, a Danish expat art-historian who is taken to a remote, gelid Northumbrian mansion for a ten-year reunion with university friends. This reunion turns into a mysterious, deadly, and unsettling experience as the friends’ harrowing journey begins to elapse. The usual harbingers of mystery are evident from the secluded mansion to the eccentricities of their host who gives the reader additional intrigue to dissect.

On narrative, Torben, as the protagonist of this novel and his relationships with his university friends and their intricacies make up much of this novel. While witty humor and stark tenseness juxtapose one-another throughout this novel, it should be noted that this is certainly a more character driven narrative at large. Secrets begin to emerge as copious alcohol is consumed and the night progresses. But more importantly, a sense of intimacy between friends allows for this atmosphere of reflection to slowly become one where the air is off and old fixations and unknown truths lead to greater distrust as the night wears on. This is perhaps most poignant in terms of Anthony Dodd’s revelations regarding his will. This plot seeks to solve the suspicious death that makes this narrative whole but is also heavily concerned with the relationships between characters.

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On setting, Jensen’s rich, atmospheric imagery and description allows the reader to fully surrender themselves to the jarring, hoary nature blanketing the world around the mansion and silencing the fear held within. I was intrigued by the mansion being presented as being owned by the most “successful” of the bunch in that such murder mysteries are often tied to the rich and the opulent homes they possess and this feels like an ode to this tradition. A certain sense of the traditional oozes through this novel despite its modern setting and this old-world feel at times, brings forward a sense of nostalgia in relation to the literature of the past.

On character, Jensen’s emphasis on careful diversity that only serves the core narrative should be paid attention to in that it allows the reader to work through the mystery with very few giveaways. This ensures not only that the readability is maintained but also allows for strength of narrative progression that keeps the reader consistently engaged. The variety of character backgrounds from a police inspector to an academic, serves to highlight a sense of contrast that reads as clearly well thought out.

As a conversational Danish speaker and admirer of Danish culture, I especially appreciated the carefully crafted and embedded commentary made by Helle in relation to rather comical commentary widely shared in Denmark. This is most poignant with sardonic reflections on the Swedes. Something important to note, is that this cultural embedding is important and seldom maintained in many novels. Jensen must be commended for this. In addition, the inclusion of a Danish glossary was a fantastic addition beyond pure utility.

As a whole, this is not the usual murder-mystery that has stoked interest for many generations. Instead, Helle and Death presents the reader with a more contemporary depiction of this genre while challenging anglophone hegemony through Danish additions that serve, on a deeper level, to engage with the greater multilingualism and multiculturalism that has begun to make this globalized world feel more like a village with each passing day. It should be said that the intensity of the denouement made up for the more character heavy slower middle of this novel.

While the ending packs a mighty punch, you will have to read this novel by Oskar Jensen to find out more. This all-engrossing novel launches in January 2024 and should definitely be on your reading list!