Penal death in medieval Europe is a vast subject whose chrono-cultural, institutional, and regional subtleties have been highlighted by historians of texts, images, law and procedure, subtleties which sometimes still raise questions.

The organization of burial spaces evolved considerably throughout the Middle Ages. The progressive Christianization of towns and the countryside considerably modified the relationship between the dead and the living.

Grave goods found inside Early Medieval tombs have aroused the interest of many since the moment they were buried in the ground. These artifacts continued to play different roles, even after the end of the Middle Ages

The protohistoric period in Europe is the theater of very diverse funeral treatments, from simple burial as it is most often envisaged, to cremation, including specific positioning, remodeling of tombs, recovery of bones, etc.

The knowledge of ancient societies is expressed in a significant way through funerary remains.

In medieval Western Europe, religious and lay communities practiced common prayers in dedicated places, with special furniture and objects. For the monks, they were mainly in the choir stalls of the church and the chapter house

The cathedral of Messina, locally called ‘Duomo’, is currently a unique building not only for its historical and artistic importance but also for the singular events that have affected it in the last centuries: two earthquakes (1783; 1908) and one bombing (1943).

The last centuries of Antiquity were marked by the spread of Christianity and its growing influence on Western societies. Its expansion was encouraged by the members of the clergy that was being set up, as well as by the circulation of people and ideas within an Empire that made it its official religion in 380.

The Western Middle Ages were strongly marked by the emergence and affirmation of Christianity: being part of the Ecclesia (i.e. the community of Christians) it became a frame of reference that was reflected in many individual and collective practices.

This is a typical siege scene in the Assyrian palaces. Recurrently, war scenes were placed in the walls of throne rooms (besides some symbolic and protective images).

Fighting and warfare narratives fulfil the annals of sovereigns in the world history. Sometimes these narratives are accompanied by images, celebrating the battle achievements.

Henry E. Eccles (1962, 98) described logistics as “the bridge between the economy of the nation and the tactical operations of the combat forces.” The limitations faced by ancient societies in waging war were related to their capacity to produce, muster and transport resources in a timely fashion.