Day Five: Kostnice

---

We stopped off on day five at the centuries old church of Kostnice. In the 14th century a half blind (and possibly mad, based on his legacy) decided to decorate the Church in human bones. Why is an excellant question but the overall effect is as impressive as it is creepy. Bones were piled in huge arcs, arranged to form coats of arms and even writing, and hung like macabre paper chains from the ceiling.

We stood together for a group photo and someone started off a chorus of Dem Bones, which did not endear us to the security guard/ticket officer. Some people argued later that arranging the bones into decorations didn't exactly qualify as respect for the dead, but I think he had a point. I ghave a theory that a loarge part of the general giggliness was caused by being just a little bit freaked out. I was too at first, but as someone who has done Art as a serious subject for four years I kind of appreciated how much work it must have taken. Either that or I'm just morbid.

---

Comments

[Mark Knight]

Mad Monks? Or just Christians?
Interesting Fact: At some point a saint is supposed to have taken some earth from the hill on which Jesus was crusified and scattered some on the graveyard of that church. Being "really holy ground", (very technical term), everyone wanted to be buried there. Eventually they ran out of room (apparently the graves are up to 6 layers deep in some places, even now) and they dug aload of people up and hung their bones on the walls. Hey I suppose it beats just throwing them away... P.s. Art is never a serious subject. P.p.s. You are morbid. P.p.p.s. Have fun. KGB

[Ariadne]

Good to hear from you
See how trivial you think art is when it's *your* skull decorating a chandelier ;) *leaves smiling disconcertingly, so Marc can wonder about his friends morbidity and whether she has his address*