Posted on 09/06/2013 7:15:37 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
A relic hunter dubbed 'Indiana Bones' has lifted the lid on a macabre collection of 400-year-old jewel-encrusted skeletons unearthed in churches across Europe.
Art historian Paul Koudounaris hunted down and photographed dozens of gruesome skeletons in some of the world's most secretive religious establishments.
Incredibly, some of the skeletons, said to be the remains of early Christian martyrs, were even found hidden away in lock-ups and containers.
They are now the subject of a new book, which sheds light on the forgotten ornamented relics for the first time.
Thousands of skeletons were dug up from Roman catacombs in the 16th century and installed in towns around Germany, Austria and Switzerland on the orders of the Vatican.
They were sent to Catholic churches and religious houses to replace the relics destroyed in the wake of the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s.
Mistaken for the remains of early Christian martyrs, the morbid relics, known as the Catacomb Saints, became shrines reminding of the spiritual treasures of the afterlife.
They were also symbols of the Catholic Church's newly found strength in previously Protestant areas.
Each one was painstakingly decorated in thousands of pounds worth of gold, silver and gems by devoted followers before being displayed in church niches.
Some took up to five years to decorate.
They were renamed as saints, although none of them qualified for the title under the strict rules of the Catholic church which require saints to have been canonised.
But by the 19th century they had become morbid reminders of an embarrassing past and many were stripped of their honours and discarded.
Mr Koudounaris' new book, Heavenly Bodies: Cult Treasures and Spectacular Saints from the Catacombs, is the first time the skeletons have appeared in print.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Just be glad that is all she did. Usually when she goes after a Catholic she notifies 70 or 80 other prots to help her out. That seems to be her idea of a fair fight.
wouldn’t. WANT. to.
They removed my post, lol! I’m beginning to think they should ban religion discussions entirely on FR. That would give the “religion mods” time to get some sleep.
The rest of us have no problem having religious discussions without having our posts removed.
Could be someone is trying to tell you something....
Hey, that’s personal!
No, it’s just an observation.
Looks like the day may be coming when observation is cause for someone to be offended and call the RM. Of course we wouldn’t have to OBSERVE if SCRIPTURE were actually given by the other side instead of yabbering insults.
Flying monkeys alert! Hey, that’s personal!
It SEEMS to me miss, that your posts are light on facts and Scripture. Do you even remember what this thread is about?
Hey! That’s personal, too!
Hey, unless you change your name to “all” they are ALL going to be personal. That’s what “miss marmelstein” as your screen name insures...
Hey! You’re getting personal again!
LOL!!! The OFFICIAL new picture...:)
Probably very attractive, but she could still lose 5 more lbs.....;^)
Picky picky.
Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.