San Benedetto Abbey, Subiaco

Triumph of Death (Detail)

Back to Photo Gallery | Back to Article |

View Larger |

Previous | Next

From St. Gregory's Chapel, the Holy Stairs (Scala Santa) lead down to Our Lady's Chapel. The walls of the stairway are decorated with large frescoes by the Sienese artists who adorned the first half of the Upper Church. Death is the main theme here, probably because the stairs led to the monks' cemetery. On the right wall is Death himself, a skeleton with flowing hair riding a white horse. Against a dark yellow background, he strikes an unsuspecting young man with his spear and tramples bodies of those he has already taken. Behind him, impoverished old people plead for death but are ignored.

How to license this photo.

Sacred Destinations Home Contact Us About Us About Images Advertise Spiritual Tours Timeshares Blog Privacy Policy
Except where indicated otherwise, all content and images © 2005-09 Sacred Destinations. All rights reserved.
Free content for your Google homepage or website! Get our daily photo gadget.
Sacred Destinations is an online travel guide to sacred sites, pilgrimages, holy places, religious history, sacred places, historical religious sites, archaeological sites,
religious festivals, sacred sites, spiritual retreats, religious travel and spiritual journeys. We are a Yahoo Pick!
Popular categories: Ancient Mysteries, Biblical Sites, Cathedrals, Catholic Shrines, Footsteps of Jesus, Luther Sites
Popular sites: Easter Island, Lourdes, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Oberammergau Passion Play, Shroud of Turin 2010, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, Stonehenge
Popular destinations: Rome, Rome Map, Ravenna, Ephesus, Assisi, Paris, Jerusalem
Our stock photo site: Sacred Destinations Photography