Understanding and Respect

Past, Present, and Future... How interestingly they intertwine sometimes.

We've talked about the Past - the creators, the artists, the history, and the dead. And now...

“Let's talk of graves, of worms, and epitaphs;
Make dust our paper and with rainy eyes,
Write sorrow on the bosom of the earth.”
- William Shakespeare

Understanding the symbols on old gravestones gives greater insight into the past, be it a drawing, word, or symbolical representation. It’s a story, a message, and emotions carved in stone. We would like to share just a small portion of the fascinating, but simple, symbols of birth and death to help in translation.


* born
† died
(*) born out of wedlock
†* stillborn
*† died on birthday
≈ baptized
o engaged
⚭ married
⚮ divorced
⚯ unmarried
⚔ killed in action
⚰ buried
⚱ cremated

You will find many old gravestones around the Ossuary, and a few plaques inside to read. There will be even more history explained in printed pamphlets and through an audio guide inside the Ossuary. We highly recommend you take a listen and enjoy it all!

But sadly, not everything that has existed here in the past can be seen in the Present.

You see, if you only live in the Now, disregarding the Past, you disregard the Future. Just like so many architectural marvels of the world, lost in time, parts of the Sedlec Ossuary have met the same fate - sometimes due to age, but more often to human interference. Originally, Rint created towering stacks of bone decorations in the corners where the glass cases now stand, and confessional booths decorated with skulls and bone under the windows, as well as garlands of skulls around the windows that have long since disappeared. Unfortunately, they have “partially fell to pieces …and ended up as souvenirs of the undisciplined tourist”. Just by destroying part of the past for their selfish present, someone ruined a chance for those coming after them to experience these incredible creations.
Just think about that for a moment.

This is why the restoration work for the Ossuary so important. To preserve and protect it for centuries (and visitors) to come.

As the last paragraph for today's thoughts, we wanted to finish this post with words of wisdom: Respect everything around you that was, is, and will be; and don’t be the “undisciplined tourist”, in this place, or anywhere in this beautiful world we live in.

"Remember tonight, for it is the beginning of always."
- Dante Alighieri

Follow our Journey

Website/Mailing List: The Sedlec Ossuary Project
Instagram: @sedlec.ossuary
Twitter: Sedlec.Ossuary
Pinterest: Sedlec Ossuary

Location: Kutna Hora, Czechia

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