Wednesday, November 25, 2009

At Napoleon's Tomb

Under the great golden dome of Les Hotel des Invalides, on the banks of the Seine

Underneath a breathtaking painted ceiling

Surrounded by vast murals and gold arches

Next to an overwhelmingly opulent altar

Surrounded by reminders of great military and civil achievement, and encased in multiple coffins, of lead, tin, marble, and granite; resting on a giant green granite plinth - lies the body of Napoleon.


Standing in amazement before the great art, architecture, expense, achievement and sheer scale of it all, my wife commented;
"Man can do all this - but still there at the centre of it all, is a body in a box".

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