"St Vincentus" skeleton in Stams Monastery, Tyrol, Austria.
![]()
One of four decorated skeletons in the monastery church in Stams, he raises his hand to hide his face in a gesture of humility. Copyright Paul Koudounaris. About Stams Monastery Click Here
Skeleton in Stams Monastery
The jeweled skeletons were originally found in catacombs beneath Rome in 1578, and distributed as replacements under the belief they were Christian martyrs to churches that had lost their saint relics in the Reformation. However, for most, their identities were not known. The receiving churches then spent years covering the revered skeletal strangers with jewels and golden clothing, even filling their eye sockets and sometimes adorning their teeth with finery.
The original photo of St. Vincenus and full text at: www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-most-beautiful-dead-photographs-of-jeweled-skeletons
Skeleton in Stams Monastery
 |
| Fot. Elisabeth Fazel |
The original photo of St. Vincenus and full text at: www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-most-beautiful-dead-photographs-of-jeweled-skeletons