1
00:00:01,928 --> 00:00:04,165
You are now facing a rather dark place.

2
00:00:04,463 --> 00:00:08,241
We're just ten meters away from the
old anatomical theatre over there,

3
00:00:08,341 --> 00:00:10,960
where corpses were dissected on a regular basis.

4
00:00:11,060 --> 00:00:13,100
This practice started in the 18th Century.

5
00:00:13,330 --> 00:00:16,290
When we talk about anatomy,
we immediately think of Vesalius,

6
00:00:16,390 --> 00:00:19,770
who is by far one of the most important
anatomists in history.

7
00:00:20,230 --> 00:00:21,550
He studied in Leuven

8
00:00:21,650 --> 00:00:25,560
and published his work <i>De Humani Corporis
Fabrica</i> in the 16th century.

9
00:00:25,660 --> 00:00:28,990
This masterpiece truly increased
the popularity of anatomy.

10
00:00:29,140 --> 00:00:35,130
However, it was not until the 18th century
that the first real anatomical theatre was established.

11
00:00:35,230 --> 00:00:38,720
Before this, dissections took place
in small designated rooms,

12
00:00:38,860 --> 00:00:41,810
for instance in the attic of the University Hall

13
00:00:41,910 --> 00:00:46,550
Inside the theatre, students sat on bleachers,
a kind of amphitheatre,

14
00:00:46,770 --> 00:00:50,480
where they could observe and learn from the
spectacular dissections.

15
00:00:50,580 --> 00:00:54,310
The tall windows made the theatre very bright,
which is the reason why the theatre was

16
00:00:54,410 --> 00:00:57,840
later used as an atelier by
the artist Constantin Meunier.

17
00:00:57,940 --> 00:01:02,250
Conclusion: of the dead, nothing unless good.
Let's go to the next stop!