Comments on: Do you know what the symbols in this crypt mean?

Question: Do you know what the symbols in this crypt mean?

lorbus — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:28:27 -0800

In the Cimitero Monumentale in Milan lies a crypt of the Galimberti family. Cuboid in shape, it bears numerous engravings which appear scientific in nature. I can make out what appears to be smashing particles, parabolas, lenses, and spirals. Is there a hidden meaning to all of this? A message? Code?

Here are some photos: Full, Front, Door Detail, Left, Right, and Back.

If you need bigger images just let me know.
Thanks.

By: 5MeoCMP

5MeoCMP — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:35:06 -0800

Well, the back has a classic 7-circuit labyrinth. That's all I recognise.

By: tim_in_oz

tim_in_oz — Fri, 09 May 2008 04:43:52 -0800

Rambaldi device.

By: dinger

dinger — Fri, 09 May 2008 05:07:40 -0800

It seems to me that the labrynth on the back could be an analog of the human brain.

Curious: Are the glass inserts on the back merely decorative panels set in the stone, or are they windows for looking inside the crypt (assuming no one's going to be looking out)?

By: KirkJobSluder

KirkJobSluder — Fri, 09 May 2008 05:44:43 -0800

My guess is that one or more of the family members sometime in the last 30 years was a particle physicist who hired an artist to represent multiple theories. The image at the top of the front panel looks like a stylized representation of a particle accelerator, the left panel seems to show cosmic ray decay chains in the lower-right corner, and the labyrinth on the back is an ancient mystical symbol. The stylized e on the right could be a reference to Euler's constant. Some of the diagrams remind me of Feynman diagrams.

By: ArgentCorvid

ArgentCorvid — Fri, 09 May 2008 06:48:56 -0800

the designs to the right of the 'e' look like representations of crystal structure to me.

By: _dario

_dario — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:20:34 -0800

I found here that it was made in 1984 by a Vincenzo Ferrari, milanese painter.

By: lorbus

lorbus — Fri, 09 May 2008 08:32:19 -0800

@dinger: The glasses are windows. I looked inside and it was too dark to photograph but I made out more symbols, this time in gold leaf on a dark background.

@KirkJobSluder: Sounds like great guesses. Is this cool or what?

@ArgentCorvid: They do indeed.

@_dario: Thanks for that link, I think it'll make it easier to look for more info.

Thanks for the responses so far... It just keeps getting better!

By: JimN2TAW

JimN2TAW — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:11:16 -0800

There's an Italian physicist named "M. Galimberti." You'll find him/her easily by Google. No idea if there's a connection.