Le 17/07/2011 23:44, Darren New nous fit lire :
> On 7/17/2011 6:57, Warp wrote:
>> Darren New<dne### [at] sanrrcom>  wrote:
>>> Actually, we're talking about the inside of one specific monastery. One
>>> which is decorated with the bones of dead monks. It's not like anyone
>>> decorating the ceiling *or* looking at the ceiling is going to be
>>> surprised
>>> at what they see.
>>
>>    I just find it curious that there isn't eg. any law there that forbids
>> such a macabre practice (even back then, and especially today).
> 
> Sure. In the USA, it would be a religious practice, and therefore
> outside of what people would be allowed to legislate. I honestly don't
> know why the monks thought it reasonable or desirable to do this,
> really.  I'll have to look into that next time I see something like this.
> 
I'd like to remind the lovely audience about the appearance of Vanitas
in the painting of 16 & 17th centuries, also common in other periods.

From the religious (christian/catholic) point of view, the soul is the
only eternal "thing". The corpse and its remains are not. Denying the
death of the corpse (such as forbidding its representation) would be a
bigger trouble than reminding it to everyone in the monastery.

On the same way as Vanitas, Ubi Sunt (qui ante nos fuerunt) are also
common poetry related to the shortness of life.

Moreover, usually there is 2 parts in a monastery: one only for the
monks and one shared with the male adults from the civil society.
(Female or children in a male monastery would not be tolerated unless a
responsible civil male do guard them, and even... well, depends on the
abbot and the rule of the order)

Which part of the monastery were the bones in ?

Post a reply to this message