Why are these Guts in Jars?

From out there somewhere, from where ever wierd thoughts come from, came this one - why were some cardinals and catholic bishops, etc., buried like the ancient Egyptians? Not that they were mummified, but when touring a cathedral in Austria, I was curious as to why the intestines and "insides" of these high ranking church officials were buried in copper containers (why copper) away from the bodies which were lying in the catacombs of the cathedral. If my memory was correct the containers were in another room.

In ancient Egyptian times, it appears that Pharoah and families were buried in the same manner, with the intestines,etc. in jars. These jars each stood for a god of a specific function, or reason. Hmmm, more research or does anyone know why particularly the body parts were removed?

The cathedral we visited in Vienna was awesome. I stood in its bowels and looked at layers and layers of bones of plague victims buried in the catacombs, not really buried, just heaped in layers. Can you imagine what going to church would smell like while the bodies decomposed?

The realization of how young the U.S. really is hit me. I wished I had paid more attention to history in school. And a little tickly seed is popping around in my mind, saying, well, why not go to BACK to school and finish up your art degree in art history? Well, why not? I don't have to do it all in one year, two years or any time-contained line. Just a thought.

While researching, I came upon a rather obvious fact about the pyramids. They were built with the point on the top because that is the least stressful way to construct something that large without a collapse at the top. But back to Europe and the cathedrals - at one point it was discovered there was a way to do the arches and the great proportions of the cathedrals - and then the "masons" become entwined in some of the history - and I wonder if even now in the U.S. putting a cornerstone in a public building and dedicating it to the masons/lodge/whatever is connected. "Twould only make sense.

One plus one equals two - or is that drawing conclusions where none should be drawn? (I have a knack of drawing either pretty observant conclusions or really way out there ditzy conclusions that make no sense. Or so I'm told.) Or is history of man so short that the time we view as such a long time is really a short time, thus the connection? The connection of one discovery building upon another before so much time elapses that the connection is forgotten? Imagine mankind with a collective memory dysfunction. We would still be in the stone ages! "Uh, how HOW do you make a fire, explain that one more time."

From the 12th to the 18th century it was common for the heart to be removed from the body and sent distances aways to be kept with someone or someplace. Why?

There are some speculations, from everyone wanting a "piece of the action" of a famous person to "custom" but I can't find any detailed explanation. When did the custom end - or did it? Any history majors out there? Or avid researchers who know?

Just thinking.