The Skull Cathedral of Otranto: Where the Bones of 800 Martyrs Adorn the Walls
Mon, Mar 23, 2009
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Image: Laurent Massoptier
Before dismissing the image as yet another pretty picture of a medieval church, take a closer look. Yes, those are skulls! Instead of the usual altar pictures, there’s a wall of skulls, displayed prominently for the church congregation. Meet the martyrs of Otranto Cathedral in Italy’s Apulia region…
The year was 1480 and the fateful day July 28 when a fleet of 70 to 200 Ottoman ships reached the city of Otranto, then part of the Kingdom of Naples. It was the beginning of the Ottoman wars (1453-1683) in Europe and invader Mohammed II had conquered Constantinople just 28 years earlier. The garrison and the citizens took cover in the Castle of Otranto but as it had no cannons for defense, it was soon conquered and the garrison killed.
On August 12, 800 citizens were taken to the hill of Minerva, now called the Hill of the Martyrs, and beheaded because they refused to renounce their Catholic faith. Their remains were taken to the cathedral and the skulls preserved in the altar piece as a prominent reminder of these 800 martyrs.
Image: Andreas C.
The Ottoman Wars were motivated by territory gains and eradicating the Christian faith while spreading the Muslim one. Sound familiar? Just 200 hundred years earlier, the Christian Crusades (1095-1291) had led to an invasion of Northern Africa, with the crusaders’ goal to claim territory and eradicate the Muslim faith while spreading the Christian one. And the saga continues…
Otranto today, a tranquil Mediterranean village:
Image: Freddy Ballo
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“The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else.”
March 23rd, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Wow that is really intense, I need to get to Italy!
March 24th, 2009 at 12:29 am
What is up with the “sound familiar?” clearly this is an example of the denial of who Jesus is. Some crusaders were wrong and mislead at times, but they were not trying to convert and conquer solely, they were trying to reach people for democracy and a ture king of peace, one of mercy and grace. This article reveals exactly what many American media outlets would like so many to think, that religion is the culprit, when all along the evolutionists are justifying all the barbaric behavior and evolution of thought and the way we react to eachother and how violence and incest has been part of that evolution, all the while having no fossil record or evidence, saying we are merely apes and coming from billions of years of transitions from one species into another, another lie. And so the Lord says, this article is evidence of the lengths and Muslims will go to conquer kill and destoy a population. They want conversion period. Jesus is about mercy and grace, and it is set apart for that. All righteos ideals and human rights ideas come from Christiainity and will contniue to inspire people for peace and understanding until Jesus returns. in the meantime you need to enter through the narrow gate through to God The Father which only comes throught Jesus Christ. You have choices, rulers of the “nothing” true will surley crumble again before the One True God on judgement. there is only One Way. God of grace, is the only way , not by works or knowledge or intelligence or solely understanding all the origins of man, especially whne they are altered and only half true.Evolution is ruining real science and practical development of ways to help humanity.
March 24th, 2009 at 6:13 am
This is church
June 9th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
there is a skull chapel in Kudowa Zdrój Poland and another one somwhere in Czech Republic
July 10th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
I think the Chapel of bones in Portugal is much bigger and macabre: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capela_dos_Ossos
July 24th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
CyPontuo “Christiainity and will contniue to inspire people for peace and understanding until Jesus returns” Lol better Get your sign ready i hear his Magical fly boat is almost here.
July 26th, 2009 at 7:00 am
The crusades were reactionary in defense of christians living within Jerusalem and the surrounding lands who were being killed or forced to convert to Islam. They were also abused by those who sought power through control but the event itself started out as a christian reaction to muslim attacks. Don’t be afraid of history beyond wikipedia.
September 10th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
So Untrue,
Your crusaders came to Muslims lands only to kill people all around, Islam does not force people to convert, this is one of the basics of the religion. to proof it, you can still find Christians in Palestine, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt.
See what Christians did in Spain and in Jerusalem.
I cannot believe this story. Muslims respect other religions, Especially those who are the people of the book (Christians and Jew).
Please read more before accusing Islam.
would like to know more? go to http://www.islamstory.com or http://www.islamway.com
October 4th, 2009 at 4:35 am
The church (the basement altar) in the Czech Republic is in KuntaHora and is covered with bones on every wall and in garlands and bone made chandelliers.
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:05 am
Not that wierd, check out Kutna Hora (sp?) in the czech republic. Has thousands of plague victim bones turned into furniture and decorations.