As previously mentioned, the Parisian catacombs were built for practical purposes. This makes it unique because the individuals located below are not only famous, noble individuals, but rather from all echelons of society. The bulk of the individuals are from the casualties of the French Revolution and the “Reign of Terror.” The French Revolution stemmed from a period of massive social and political upheaval between the years 1789-1799. The people of France had become completely disenchanted with the monarchy, the church and the systems of power in place, so collectively revolted. During this phase of turbulence was the period referred to as the “Reign of Terror.” This was characterized by the onset of violence between political factions.

The three main causes of this terror which lasted from 1793 until 1794 was the counter-revolutionary opposition, the lack of parliamentary organization and infrastructure and the onset of war with foreign nations (3). The dominant Jacobin party tried to manage the stresses going on under their rule by instigating executions in the name of peace. Peasants, aristocrats, former nobility, priests were all susceptible to execution. The official death toll reached 16 594 people by the end of 1794, but the count is probably higher (3).