Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones), Evora PortugalIt’s Halloween weekend, so bringing something slightly creepy seems appropriate. Reading about how this chapel came about is also unsettling! Above the entranceway is engraved the following quote:
(We bones, lying here, for yours we wait) Further inside there are more:
(Better is the day of death than the day of birth) Make no mistake about it, this is a chapel that was purposely built to make a deathly point of view, very clear. Facts about the Chapel of Bones:
Story behind the photograph from the chapel of bones:Traveling Portugal was one of the highlights of my travels through Europe. It’s a pivotal link to many things on this journey, and a good place to start my overland phase of traveling. I visited the chapel of bones with a fellow traveler at the time. Not an easy thing as he was more into the “cool look at the skulls” side of things. And I really wanted to know … why? There’s a musty old smell about the place. And, at the time very few tourists were there. Which is a good thing, as the chapel is quite small. When I took this photograph I never thought about putting any of my photographs online, nor publishing my journals online. This was of course, back in 2005. Read more about Portugal here. Discover more great travel photographs This is an additional photograph feature from my world travel photography gallery, detailing the story behind the picture Please take a moment to leave a comment and share this photograph using your favorite social network |
wow..but I have a question, where they buried Franciscan monk?
That’s a very good question … I would hope, above the doorway ;)
Fascinating, I wonder how many other places in the world have things like this?
I believe there are quite a few. Even in Southern Portugal (Faro) there is a similar Church.
Great photo for Halloween! It’s the first one in your gallery right? Do you also consider it the first photo on your journey? Just curious :)
Hmmm, good question. No, actually I don’t. I think on this journey I would put the first photo down as being on the west coast of Portugal. Just a beach, not as dramatic as this, but that’s the way it is!
Does seem a little creepy, but fascinating at the same time (kinda like we felt when visiting, “Bodies The Exhibition”). It is silly that we fear death so much, instead of accepting it as a natural part of life …
Interesting thought Victoria. Fearing Death. Many scholars agree. But the reality is, by instinct when we are faced with it, and have a choice, we run for all our lives in the opposite direction.
This is awesome! I was in Portugal years ago, I would have loved to have seen this :^(
Hi Dave,
The philosophy of designers, to show the triviality of death in a place of worship, is quite intriguing. I would be worried to pray here, unless it’s chapel dedicated to the devil. ;-)
Hi Priyank, good to see you again.
You got it right, the philosophy behind this is really quite deep. As for praying there, didn’t actually see anyone. Wait … as memory serves me there were a few praying. Not sure who too though ;) Let’s go with the good guy!
Certainly is an amazing place :)