- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2011-2022 CF, VdlP from Salamanca, CM
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Can't answer your query but I was intrigued to see the skull and crossbones on the church. I saw that again recently on a church on the Portuguese Camino. Does anyone know the significance?
I think the skull and crossbones are on the Santo Domingo church which is sort of in the middle of Castrojeriz. The photo above with the window above the west portal shows the San Juan church at the end of Castrojeriz.Can't answer your query but I was intrigued to see the skull and crossbones on the church.
@m108, I think you want to know why the tracery (I think that's the name in English) of the window has the shape of a pentagram and why, out of all the innumerous possible positions, they decided on a position where one of the five pointed ends is at the very bottom of the circular window, right?Church at the exit of Castrojeriz. Does anyone have an idea why the star is facing like it?View attachment 61001
Right@m108, I think you want to know why the tracery (I think that's the name in English) of the window has the shape of a pentagram and why, out of all the innumerous possible positions, they chose a position where one of the five pointed ends is at the very bottom of the circular window, right?
To think that we walked around all the sides of this church and didn't even notice this ...
A common explanation says that it is a memento mori, a reminder that you and I and everyone else will die eventually. Quite popular in the Middle Ages and of course with medieval pilgrims as one aspect of pilgrimage was their concern about what will happen after death and any safety measures that one can take while on earth. You can make out the words O MORS O AETERNITAS (Oh death, oh eternity) above the two skulls and crossbones in Castrojeriz.I was intrigued to see the skull and crossbones on the church. I saw that again recently on a church on the Portuguese Camino. Does anyone know the significance?
Thank youI found a great resource with many explanations as to the origins of the pentagram. Hope this helps you. https://www.templestudy.com/2008/02/04/the-ancient-pentagram-a-christian-symbol/