The Chapel of the Bones

The Chapel of the Bones

The Capela dos Ossos was built by Franciscan friars inside the walled city of Evora, Portugal. It is a church of bones.It was constructed by Franciscan monks in the late 16th century. The bones were relocated to the chapel since the 43 cemetaries were taking up valuable land. So why not put the bones on display? They were of the locals. This was a rather creepy part of our excursion with Steve’s company Genesys. We had an 8 hour excursion and it was a lot of fun with wine, food, olive oils and bones…we can’t forget the bones.

“Nós ossos que aqui estamos, pelos vossos esperamos,” or: “We the bones that are here, await yours.”

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. Wikipedia

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

Peacocks in the Jardim de Evora

Evora was then settled by the Romans in 57 BCE. The fertile Alentejo plain was a significant source of wheat, an important crop for the Roman Empire.

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