To provide some context these are called the "Catacomb Saints." When the catacombs where discovered and the corpes exhumed they did not have the jewels and decorations with them. No person in the catacombs would ever be buried with these amazing amount of wealth. Instead, during the Beeldenstorm many Catholic churches throughout Europe were stripped and robbed of their religious symbols, relics, artifacts and jewels . In response, the Vatican ordered that thousands of skeletons be exhumed from the catacombs beneath the city and installed in towns throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The skeletons were to be heavily decorated and installed with all kinds of precious jewels. These are the results of that decision, after a little restoration and cleaning of course. For the photo gallery.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. I love discussing history.
To provide some context these are called the "Catacomb Saints." When the catacombs where discovered and the corpes exhumed they did not have the jewels and decorations with them. No person in the catacombs would ever be buried with these amazing amount of wealth. Instead, during the Beeldenstorm many Catholic churches throughout Europe were stripped and robbed of their religious symbols, relics, artifacts and jewels . In response, the Vatican ordered that thousands of skeletons be exhumed from the catacombs beneath the city and installed in towns throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The skeletons were to be heavily decorated and installed with all kinds of precious jewels. These are the results of that decision, after a little restoration and cleaning of course. For the photo gallery.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. I love discussing history.