purplecat | St Magnus Cathedral

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Outside of the Cathedral showing graveyard, tall central tower and circular window.

Work began on St Magnus Cathedral in 1137 when Orkney was still under Norse control. Earl Rognvald wanted to honour God and, one infers, deflect attention from the removal of his second cousin from Earldom by reminding people that the previous Earl had murdered the eponymous Magnus in order to gain the earldom. I took this photo from the tower of the Bishop's palace, just over the road.

Elaborate tombstone with much lettering and a skull and crossbones.

Elaborate tombstone with much lettering and a skull and crossbones.

Elaborate tombstone with much lettering and a skull with a hand holding a cup on its head.

Elaborate tombstone with much lettering and a skull and crossbones.

Elaborate tombstone with much lettering and very basic skull atop what might be a single crossbone.

Lots of these tombstones decorate the walls with the prominent skull motif rendered, as can be seen here, with varying levels of skill.

Tall arched side passage.

Tall arched side passage.

Very elaborate tombstone. With a skull. A figure stands on a ball which says vanitas.

Tall arched side passage. A diamond shaped sign hangs from a column.

Stained glass window with interlinked stone arches below and bland seats in front.

Statue of a medieval dress man with blond hair and a beard. He is wearing a circlet and carrying a large axe and a ball with a cross on top of it. He stands on a feathered beast with a tail and the crowned head of a man.

I have forgotten what Saint Olaf is standing on, and why!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

V pretty!

From:

It's an impressive building - easy to forget that it's not just Durham and York that have impressive cathedrals.

From:

cordeliadelayne

Looks great especially the tombstones.

From:

Yes, the tombstones were very noticeable!!

From:

bunn

Those are some excellently goofy skulls, conveying a number of cartoonish emotions!

From:

The skulls were great!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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purplecat

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