Capela dos Ossos translates literally as "The Chapel of Bones" and human bones are exactly what you'll find inside. Thousands of them, in fact, stacked high from floor to ceiling along every wall of this small chapel.
The chapel dates back to the 16th century, when local church elders were faced with a dilemma. Nearby cemeteries were getting full and taking up valuable land close to the city, and something needed to be done. In the end, the decision was taken to close the cemeteries and relocate the bones of the deceased to a dedicated chapel.
Never ones to forgo a teachable moment, the monks decided to place those bones on public display rather than hide them away. In this way, it was hoped, visitors would be forced to reflect on their own mortality, and modify their behavior accordingly while still alive.
In case the message wasn't quite clear enough for medieval visitors, the message "Nós ossos que aqui estamos, pelos vossos esperamos" ("we, the bones that are here, await yours") was inscribed above the entrance, and remains there even now.
source
When I visited Evora in 2018, this was the most unusual and at the same time, the most eerie tourist attraction I have ever seen. So when I saw that @qurator is asking for some mystical pictures for the weekly Photo Quest contest this, one of the kind, chapel come into my mind!
I have told you about it in this post written in 2019, all in black and white but I had a few more unpublished shots to share and I tried a more "mystical" edit too :)
You can follow the link and tell me which ones do you prefer!
I don't know if medieval visitors did modify their behaviour after entering this place but the modern visitors that I saw didn't seem like having a life-changing experience and I'll include myself too. I imagine that a few centuries ago the impact must have been so much stronger. But now we are constantly exposured in violence through the movies, the video games or the tv, we even watch actual wars taking place in front of our eyes while we eat our dinner so we are kind of insentient. I know that this is a very generic thing to say and it is probably unjust to mankind but it is a thought I made and I wanted to share it with you.
I wonder would you visit this chapel and can you guess the feelings it would trigger to yourself, if you do?
Thank you for reading and if you want to know more about me you can check out my introduction post.
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Wow that is a really interesting idea to have the bones out to show the mortality and modify behavior. You are right we see so much violence these days. This is a different level knowing that they are peoples bones and there are so many. I don't know what I would think, probably "Who were these people? What were they like?"
Yes it is really interesting!
I think that this place is the perfect example for the expression "food for thought".
I would definitely visit this chapel! This view really makes us think about our mortality... but also about the greatness of life and memory. Some sadness, some respect, more admiration - I think these would be my emotions.
The photos are excellent, and I definitely prefer the current edit.
Very well said!
I'll agree with you about the emotions and the edit too :)
The yellow accent lights make the shadows on the bones super contrasty. Would love to visit this chapel. Probably not a popular wedding ceremony locale. Definitely has the artsy vibe for light and texture.
Haha, the idea of a wedding ceremony in there, is so provocative on its own :)
I've heard about that chapel before, and it really is an eerie place. It must have been somewhat spooky walking about in it. I wonder if we chock this one up to 'human ingenuity'
A very peculiar kind of ingenuity! I will be lying though if I say that I fully understand the way of thinking of those monks that built it.
Wow! This is some really special unique place! I would def visit it! I love the photography, as always!
Thank you, it worth visiting indeed :)
Oh my goodness. This place is an epitome of fascinating macabre 💀.
Haha, nice description!
Thank you for stopping by :)
Wow, I think it's beautiful. I rather like a lot of "momento mori" art and music. I knew that Paris had done this with the catacombs but I didn't know there was a chapel elsewhere with a similar origin.
Yes, this one as well as the catacombs are very obvious examples of "momento mori" , probably art can be more effective in a more discreet way.
Thank you for stopping by :)
Wow! I used to joke a lot about death but after seeing, with your help, this chapel, I think I'll revise my attitude. What shocks me is that they used bones as decorative materials, especially in the columns. I'm trying to think of the builders who sorted the bones by length to fit, haha! It's not my laugh, it's a little cringeworthy!
An unusual subject, excellent photos. Informative, exciting, and a major contender in the competition.
I learned something else about the (I think unintentional) humor of Greek monks. More cynical, considering the inscription. I'm waiting for the resurrection of the dead, I can only imagine how they'll come to the chapel to retrieve their bones...
Haha I hope they won't need their bones back, otherwise the resurrection will end up as a big mess :)
The chapel is in the town of Evora in Portugal. So this is the Portuguese monk's humor :)
A big mess or demolition!
God, I'm so stupid. I re-read your post to see if you mention Portugal and I was so shallow not to notice that. I saw the inscriptions and thought they were in Latin, saw Evora, and thought of Evia. It seemed to me that this looked more like a feat of Catholic monks but I was glad that the Orthodox can be "creative" too.
Thanks for opening my head (figuratively, of course)!
Haha it's OK, everyone can overlook a couple of words :)
Thanks! It happens to me many times.
What an amazing place. Scary and awesome at the same time. And after all, good building material :)
After all those centuries it looks pretty solid so yes, I guess it is a pretty good building material :)
Shocking and terrifying at the same time, I would like to visit that place but to guess how am I going to feel inside, I think that I have to be there to tell you hahaha. But it's true that it's hard to impress people in these times 🤷🏻♀️
You are kind of far away but I hope you'll have the chance to visit it one day!
And then you could tell me what it felt like :)
Hehehe, thanks, of course, sure 👍