 |
The Headstone Crypt
During the restoration of Nidaros Cathedral many fragments of the old headstones surfaced. These medieval headstones of marble, dating long back in the history of the church, have suffered the ravages of time and harsh fates. Most were crushed and reused as building blocks in walls during the 16th century. As the pieces were found, they were assembled. Since1999 a selection of these headstones has been put on display in the church crypt, representing the largest collection of medieval grave artefacts in Norway. |
 |
 |
|
Gudrid, a woman from Trondheim from the 1200s |
The oldest portraits in Norway
Nidaros Cathedral has been used as a church for burials for almost one thousand years. In 1030 Olav Haraldsson was buried in the spot where the high altar now stands, and later thousands of persons have been buried both inside and outside the church. In the Middle Ages, however, only a select handful were honoured with a final resting place close to St. Olav.
The displayed headstones are of excellent quality, featuring interesting scenes and inscriptions in Latin and old Norse. Among the most famous ones are parts of the headstone of the Duke of Skule from around 1240, featuring a portrait of the Duke. A number of other stones also depict a deceased person, thus being the oldest "portraits" of named persons in Norway. |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
