May 6, 2008

Tzompantli, Sedlec Ossuary


Some Mesoamerican civilizations like the Mixtecs, Toltecs, Aztecs and even the Mayas used to display the skulls of defeated warriors. Such a palisade is called tzompantli. This one belongs to the 1587 Aztec manuscript called the Codex Tovar.

Thousands of kilometers and cenuries away, the catholics of Kutná Hora decorated a whole gothic chapel with thousands of skulls and other bones. The Sedlec Ossuary is for sure the most macabre place I've ever visited. See a collection of impressive pictures.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

En Evora, capital del Alentejo, un monje franciscano construyó una capilla con huesos que iban a ser destruidos, y colgó dentro las momias de un padre y su hijo.
En la entrada dice: "Nós ossos que aqui estamos pelos vossos esperamos".

http://www.molon.de/galleries/Portugal/Alentejo/images01/24%20Evora%20-%20Capela%20dos%20Ossos.jpg

Enrique G de la G said...

¡Excelente, Pancho!

Visitors