Capela dos Ossos (chapel of bones)

Capela dos Ossos (chapel of bones) theres a really bizarre place in Evora Portugal a chapel decorated with the bones of dead monks. the chapel is formed by three spans 18.7 meters long and 11 meters wide.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 motifs of death. The number of skeletons of monks was calculated to be about 1245 individuals and around 5000 bones where used, coming from the cemeteries that were situated inside several dozen churches.Two whole skeletons are also displayed, one of which is a child, dangle from a chain.the phrase "Melior est die mortis die nativitatis (Better is the day of death than the day of birth)is written above in the ceiling. It was built in the 16th century by a Franciscan monk it is believed he wanted to prod his fellow monks into contemplation and transmit the message of life being transitory. This is clearly shown in the famous warning above the entrance Nós ossos que aqui estamos pelos vossos esperamos (“We bones, lying here, for yours we wait")