Sedlec Ossuary Project

"I call architecture frozen music." -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe The bone decorations at Sedlec are no doubt the main focus of everyone's attention. But there is also a layer of Gothic Baroque design that provides a backdrop for the unusual decor. This design is attributed to architect and builder Jan Blažej Santini Aichel, whose influence and work is well-known all around Czechia. At the time he started working on the Church of All Saints restoration, he was only 25 years old. His younger brother, František Jakub, was also involved doing stonework construction. The most prominent change in the structure of the church, was a shield on the top of the exterior facade, between the two towers, to secure the building's stability. But he also carried his style all the way down into the underground Kostnice, in its details and decor, installing massive crowns to hang over the existing piles of bones, as well as corner prayer booths & candleholders. While time has no...

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 pamphle...

At the top of the wide descending staircase, and under the windows to either side, are bones arranged into the letters “IHS” and the Greek "IHΣ" topped with a cross. These are symbols often used in liturgical settings, and are believed to be the abbreviated Greek spelling of Jesus. Surrounding the letters are femurs, tibias, and mandibles iconically arranged in the form of solar rays, often representing a symbol of peace. And finally, there are three skulls on the top and sides, recalling the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. Originally, the Schwarzenberg family's coat of arms that Rint created out of bones, was hanging here in this entranceway, above the staircase. But it was later moved to the vaulted archway in the ossuary below, where it hangs today. We are currently still researching as to when this happened, and what the reasoning was for this move. In its place, now hangs skulls, pelvic bones, and other assorted leg bones in the form of a cross and solar rays. The ve...

As soon as you walk through the entrance to Sedlec Kostnice, you immediately feel a stillness in the air. No matter if you have been to other ossuaries before, or if this is the first time you are stepping into one, nothing can prepare you for that first impression, and the anticipation of what you will find below. Looking upward in the entranceway, we see three gothic-style windows that let in the morning sunlight, making this first room very bright and welcoming. In this light, the bone decorations almost seem like normal, unassuming architectural details. Here in this unique ossuary, the human remains are not buried in the typical fashion of a grave site, but rather organically and artistically integrated into the architectural design of this charnel-house. The clean lines of gothic ribbed vaults, and the baroque curves of the balcony, are adorned with decor made up of human bones. Garlands of skulls and femur crossbones, topped with a rosette of pelvic bones, frame the archway an...