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Schwarzenberg Crest

2016-11 / Kutná Hora, Czech Republic

The Schwarzenberg family (a well-off family of the 1800s) were the ones who funded the decoration of the ossuary. So the artist, Rint, paid homage by making their family crest from some of his materials. What to think of this? Is it disrespectful or is it beautiful? Maybe it's both. The family crest is the only part of the whole thing that even bothered me a little. Thinking from the perspective of "would I be offended if this was my family member/me?", I only found myself saying "maybe" at the crest. I mean, I'm not a part of the Schwarzenberg family. Maybe I don't like that family. Maybe I don't believe in aristocracy. Yet, for the rest of the current era, there I am as a literal symbol of it. But, it's also better than being left in a mass grave where no one can tell without science who belongs to who. The culture of death is just fascinating. What leads to these thoughts? This sacredness?