These Skeletons Were Found In Roman Catacombs And You'll Never Believe What They're Wearing.

#1

The 1578 discovery of labyrinth-like tombs in a network beneath the city of Rome was a fascinating and somewhat baffling one. These tombs housed skeletons of early Christian martyrs who were believed to be saints on account of their bravery and unwavering loyalty to the Christian faith.

These skeletons were given the name "The Catacomb Saints" by those who first discovered them and were eventually distributed across Europe (predominantly Germany) to replace holy relics that were destroyed or stolen during the Protestant Reformation.

When the skeletons arrived at their destination, they were decorated with precious jewels, expensive cloth, crowns, armor, and even wigs. They were displayed in the churches so as to remind visitors of the riches that await good, loyal Christians once they die.

This may sound dramatized or fictitious but it's the factual truth.

With a profound fascination for the discovery and subsequent story behind the Saints, art historian and self-proclaimed relic-hunter Paul Koudounaris, traveled the whole of Europe in an attempt to find the status of each Saint. Shockingly, many of them had yet to even be displayed--in fact they were still waiting to be adorned with decoration and revealed to the public.

His new book, Heavenly Bodies: Cult Treasures & Spectacular Saints From the Catacombs explores this intriguing story, its origins, and history of the Catacomb Saints. He asks questions like: who are they? How exactly did they die? Who ordered them to be placed in the catacombs? And why have they laid forgotten in Europe's religious houses for so long?

This book now exists as one of the most elaborate and compelling documents regarding forgotten relics. There's not a person who wouldn't be intrigued and it really should be on your reading list. To give a taste of what it's all about, below is a collection of some pictures you'll find in the book and trust me this doesn't even scratch the surface.

There's so much beauty to them even though there's a morbid touch.

I wonder how much one of these guys are worth?The colors, the textures, the everything.

Hmm I wonder how much one of these guys are worth?

Doesn't the sight of them really make you wonder why they were buried beneath Rome?

It's also crazy to think of how long they've stayed in tact.

I think the reconstruction of the eyes has to be my favorite part.

I'll take a couple of those please.

Imagine how lively this would've looked...

Okay, this one looks a little to comfy to be a Saint on display...but still.

A toast to the host with the most.

And an even bigger toast...from the one guy who still looks slightly alive.

#13

So there you have it, mysterious historical figures decorated to the heavens and on display all over Europe. The concept is a really strange one but it's intriguing all same and a clear indication of how amazing Koudounaris' book is!