Dear Calcium Replenished Bodies,
Today we headed to the Vatican and went underground and underneath the alter of Saint Peter's Basilica to see St Peter's Tomb and what is purported to be his actual bones. Gruesomely cool what? We schlepped to the Vatican a mere 20 minute walk from our apartment along the river, asked the chez chic garbed Swiss Guard, where we had to go and before you know it we were inside the side entrance for an amazing tour. I forgot to add yesterday that whilst we were heading home to our place we saw this bloke who looked really familiar to me and it took me a second to work it out. It was Tim Fisher, Australia's appointee to the Holy See. It appears that Rome agrees with him (or at least the food does) because he has put on a few kilos since his days as deputy prime minister !!
Back to the tour. We learnt that Peter was crucified by Nero in the first anti-Christian demonstration by a roman emperor, on a nearby hill. They crucified them by tying them upside down where they hung on a cross till they died. They then cut down the body, but not by cutting the ropes, but simply cutting the now dead body off at the ankles, hence no feet. Peter was then buried on the site where St Peter's was to be built by Constantine, the first Christian Emperor, some 300 years later. But almost immediately, other Christians, wanting to be buried near Peter, started being buried around his tomb. However what was not known until the early 1930's when Pope Pious wanted to confirm that Peter was genuinely underneath St Peter's, was that a Roman or pagan cemetery was also at this same site. Constantine in 300 AD knew this and he couldn't did up the cemetery so he simply had half a hill demolished and redistributed over the top so that the Christian Church could be built on St Peter's grave site but it also meant, that now underneath St Peter's Basilica is not only Peter's tomb but is a treasure trove of pagan graves and family mausoleums. Very interesting. This was only discovered and excavated just prior to world war 2 and took 10 years to full excavate!!
Anyway Peter's tomb is there and has been built around by three subsequent dedications of a crypt, and two alters but when they opened the tomb there were no bones inside. According to one "official" Vatican endorsed archeologist, there was a niche built into this tomb area and according to her studies, the bones match the date and time of Peter, no feet bones because of the whole crucifixion thing and an inscription on the box where the bones where that could be interpreted to mean "Peter is here". this theory is pooh poohed by many Archeologists but one marketing savvy reigning Pope at the time of the debate has indicated that although the Church may not be able to prove the validity of the bones, - "We believe the bones to be St Peter"
(can you hear the church bells going ker-ching, ker-ching!!!)
So in ten boxes the bones are placed and you can see a small portion of them. They look how you would expect a set of 2000 year old bones to look - in need of major calcium !!
That aftnoon we strolled rough the glorious city and it is shopping Nirvana . We are trying to control ourselves as we lost our way through alleyways of clothing and footwear shops. I think this is Siobhan's real spiritual home and it ain't got nothing to do with God or Churches!!!!!!
A wonderful dinner, after getting lost again and then bed. Off for more exploring tomorrow.
Relax through Retail people's
Kelly & Siobhan
Xxxxx
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