This article is about the chapel in Évora, Portugal. For the crypt in Faro, see Capela dos Ossos (Faro). For the crypt in Valletta, Malta, see Nibbia Chapel.
The Capela dos Ossos (English: Chapel of Bones) is one of the best-known monuments in Évora, Portugal. It is a small interior chapel located next to the entrance of the Church of St. Francis. The Chapel gets its name because the interior walls are covered and decorated with human skulls and bones.
Interior of the chapelChapel wallClose-up with skulls
The Capela dos Ossos was built by Franciscan friars. It is a church of bones. An estimated 5,000 corpses were exhumed to decorate the walls of the chapel.[1] The bones, which came from ordinary people who were buried in Évora's medieval cemeteries, were arranged by the Franciscans in a variety of patterns.[2]
Descriptionedit
The chapel is formed by three spans 18.7 m (61.4 ft) long and 11 m (36 ft) wide. Light enters through three small openings on the left. Its walls and eight pillars are decorated in carefully arranged bones and skulls held together by cement. The ceiling is made of white painted brick and is painted with death motifs. The number of skeletons of friars was calculated to be about 5,000, coming from the cemeteries that were situated inside several dozen churches. Some of these skulls have been scribbled with graffiti. Two desiccated corpses, one of which is a child, are in glass display cases. And at the roof of chapel, the phrase "Melior est die mortis die nativitatis (Better is the day of death than the day of birth)" (Ecclesiastes, 7, 1) from Vulgate is written.
Poemedit
Image of two skeletons hanging from ropes
Inside the Capela dos Ossos a poem about the need to reflect on one's existence hangs in an old wooden frame on one of the pillars. It is attributed to Fr. António da Ascenção Teles, parish priest of the village of São Pedro (wherein the Church of Saint Francis with its Capela dos Ossos was erected) from 1845 to 1848.
Aonde vais, caminhante, acelerado? Pára...não prossigas mais avante; Negócio, não tens mais importante, Do que este, à tua vista apresentado.
Recorda quantos desta vida têm passado, Reflecte em que terás fim semelhante, Que para meditar causa é bastante Terem todos mais nisto parado.
Pondera, que influido d'essa sorte, Entre negociações do mundo tantas, Tão pouco consideras na morte;
Porém, se os olhos aqui levantas, Pára...porque em negócio deste porte, Quanto mais tu parares, mais adiantas.
Where are you going in such a hurry, traveler? Pause...do not advance your travel. You have no greater concern than this one: That which is now before your eyes.
Recall how many have passed from this world, Reflect on your similar end. There is good reason to do so; If only all did the same.
Ponder, you so influenced by fate, Among the many concerns of the world, So little do you reflect on death.
If by chance you glance at this place, Stop ... for the sake of your journey, The longer you pause, the further on your journey you will be.
—Padre António da Ascenção
—Padre António da Ascenção, translated by Father Carlos A. Martins
capela, ossos, this, article, about, chapel, Évora, portugal, crypt, faro, faro, crypt, valletta, malta, nibbia, chapel, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unso. This article is about the chapel in Evora Portugal For the crypt in Faro see Capela dos Ossos Faro For the crypt in Valletta Malta see Nibbia Chapel This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Capela dos Ossos news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Capela dos Ossos English Chapel of Bones is one of the best known monuments in Evora Portugal It is a small interior chapel located next to the entrance of the Church of St Francis The Chapel gets its name because the interior walls are covered and decorated with human skulls and bones Interior of the chapelChapel wallClose up with skulls Contents 1 Origin 2 Description 3 Poem 4 Images 5 See also 6 ReferencesOrigin editThe Capela dos Ossos was built by Franciscan friars It is a church of bones An estimated 5 000 corpses were exhumed to decorate the walls of the chapel 1 The bones which came from ordinary people who were buried in Evora s medieval cemeteries were arranged by the Franciscans in a variety of patterns 2 Description editThe chapel is formed by three spans 18 7 m 61 4 ft long and 11 m 36 ft wide Light enters through three small openings on the left Its walls and eight pillars are decorated in carefully arranged bones and skulls held together by cement The ceiling is made of white painted brick and is painted with death motifs The number of skeletons of friars was calculated to be about 5 000 coming from the cemeteries that were situated inside several dozen churches Some of these skulls have been scribbled with graffiti Two desiccated corpses one of which is a child are in glass display cases And at the roof of chapel the phrase Melior est die mortis die nativitatis Better is the day of death than the day of birth Ecclesiastes 7 1 from Vulgate is written Poem edit nbsp Image of two skeletons hanging from ropesInside the Capela dos Ossos a poem about the need to reflect on one s existence hangs in an old wooden frame on one of the pillars It is attributed to Fr Antonio da Ascencao Teles parish priest of the village of Sao Pedro wherein the Church of Saint Francis with its Capela dos Ossos was erected from 1845 to 1848 Aonde vais caminhante acelerado Para nao prossigas mais avante Negocio nao tens mais importante Do que este a tua vista apresentado Recorda quantos desta vida tem passado Reflecte em que teras fim semelhante Que para meditar causa e bastante Terem todos mais nisto parado Pondera que influido d essa sorte Entre negociacoes do mundo tantas Tao pouco consideras na morte Porem se os olhos aqui levantas Para porque em negocio deste porte Quanto mais tu parares mais adiantas Where are you going in such a hurry traveler Pause do not advance your travel You have no greater concern than this one That which is now before your eyes Recall how many have passed from this world Reflect on your similar end There is good reason to do so If only all did the same Ponder you so influenced by fate Among the many concerns of the world So little do you reflect on death If by chance you glance at this place Stop for the sake of your journey The longer you pause the further on your journey you will be Padre Antonio da Ascencao Padre Antonio da Ascencao translated by Father Carlos A MartinsImages edit nbsp Entrance We bones that are here await yours nbsp Capela dos Ossos nbsp Ossuary nbsp nbsp Panoramic view of the altar area in the chapelSee also editCapuchin Crypt Capuchin catacombs of Palermo Memento Mori Sedlec Ossuary Skull Tower Skull Chapel CzermnaReferences edit Portugal s Chapel of Bones Atlas Obscura Retrieved 2020 02 22 Videos Igreja de Sao Francisco Evora Portugal igrejadesaofrancisco pt in European Portuguese Retrieved 2020 02 22 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Igreja de Sao Francisco Evora Turner J Grove Dictionary of Art MacMillan 1996 ISBN 0 19 517068 7 The Rough Guide to Portugal 11th edition March 2005 ISBN 1 84353 438 X Rentes de Carvalho J Portugal De Arbeiderspers Amsterdam 1999 ISBN 90 295 3466 4 38 34 08 N 7 54 32 W 38 56889 N 7 90889 W 38 56889 7 90889 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Capela dos Ossos amp oldid 1204776853, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
