Humans as part of environment and ecosystem.

Garden as version of paradise enclosed garden

Contrast to Egyptian tombs of Pharaohs, depicted as perfect; considered gods. Monumental, sacred.


Since ancient times, people have revered or remembered their dead, as evidenced by the existence of
dolmen, which are possibly portal tombs, and the tumulus. Perhaps the most majestic examples are the
tombs of ancient Egypts pharaohs, who were considered gods and thus depicted with perfect bodies.
These sacred, solemn structures seem to be in contrast to the mood and look of the Cimitirul Vesel or
Merry Cemetery in Romania. Here, graves are marked by colorful, hand-painted oak crosses, usually
featuring satirical poems about the deceased (written in the first person) and bas-relief scenes related
to their daily life or interestssome even humorous or indiscreet like ones love for alcohol or ones
romantic infidelities. This was started by artist Ion Stan Patras in 1930s and is now continued by Dumitru
Pop. Pop thinks these graves reveal the authentic life of the person. Still, despite these novelties, the
Merry Cemetery continues the age-old practice of placing marks in the landscape to commemorate
the dead. It also echoes the Egyptian idea of an enclosed garden being a version of paradise, as seen in
lush vegetation growing on the graves. Moreover, this Romanian burial ground reflects the ancient
attitude towards death: that it is merely a passage to another world. Ethnologists link this burial ground
to the attitudes of the Dacians, Romanias early settlers who, according to Herodotus, laughed to their
graves as they believed they will meet their god, Zalmoxis.
Bibliography
Moore, John. "The Last Laugh." Toronto Star 13 September 2007.
Peter, Green. "You'll Die Laughing, if You're Not Already Dead." The New York Times 29 May 2002.
Turism Romania. Cimitirul Vesel. 24 August 2009. September 2014 <http://www.turism-
blog.ro/cimitirul-vesel/>.

(Moore)
(Peter)
(Turism Romania)