#Strange Places

[sixteenseveredhands]

Medieval Hermitage atop Katskhi Pillar, in Georgia (South Caucasus), c. 800-900 CE: this church was built during the Middle Ages; it sits atop a limestone column that has been venerated as a "Pillar of Life" for thousands of years

Known as Katskhi Pillar (or Katskhis Sveti), this enormous block of limestone is located in western Georgia, about 10km from the town of Chiatura.

The church that stands atop Katskhi Pillar was originally constructed during the 9th-10th century CE. It was long used as a hermitage for Stylites, who are sometimes referred to as "Pillar Saints" -- Christian ascetics who lived, prayed, and fasted atop pillars, often in total isolation, in an effort to bring themselves closer to God. This tradition originated in Syria during the 5th century CE, when a hermit known as Simeon the Elder purportedly climbed up onto a pillar and then stayed there for nearly 40 years, giving rise (no pun intended) to the Stylites. Stylitism managed to survive for about 1,000 years after its inception, but it gradually began to die out during the late Middle Ages, and by the end of the 16th century, it had essentially gone extinct.

Researchers don't really know how the monks originally gained access to the top of Katskhi Pillar, or how they were able to transport their building materials up to the top of the column. There's evidence that the Stylites were still living at Katskhi Pillar up until the 15th century, but the site was then abandoned shortly thereafter. This was the same period in which Georgia came under Ottoman rule, though it's unclear whether or not that may have played a role in the abandonment of the site.

The hermitage continued to lay abandoned for nearly 500 years after that. No one had been able to gain access to the top of the pillar, and very little was even known about the ruins that lay scattered at the top, as knowledge about the site's origin/history was gradually lost. There are many local legends that emerged as a way to fill in those blanks.

The site was not visited again until July 29th, 1944, when a mountaineer finally ascended to the top of the column with a small team of researchers, and the group performed the first archaeological survey of the ruins. They found that the structure included three hermit cells, a chapel, a wine cellar, and a small crypt; within the crypt lay a single set of human remains, likely belonging to one of the monks who had inhabited the site during the Middle Ages.

A metal ladder (the "stairway to Heaven") was ultimately installed into the side of the pillar, making it much easier for both researchers and tourists to gain access to these ruins.

The hermitage at the top of Katskhi Pillar actually became active again in the early 1990's, when a small group of monks attempted to revive the Stylite tradition. A Georgian Orthodox monk named Maxime Qavtaradze then lived alone at the top of Katskhi Pillar for almost 20 years, beginning in 1995 and ending with his death in 2014. He is now buried at the base of the pillar.

While the hermitage is no longer accessible to the public, and it is currently uninhabited, it's still visited by local monks, who regularly climb up to the church in order to pray. There is also an active monastery complex at the base of the pillar, where a temple known as the Church of the Simeon Stylites is located.

The Church of the Simeon Stylites: this church is located within an active monastery complex that has been built at the base of the pillar; several frescoes and religious icons decorate the walls of the church, and a small shrine containing a 6th century cross is located in the center

There are many lingering questions about the history of Katskhi Pillar, particularly during the pre-Christian era. There is at least some evidence suggesting that it was once the site of votive offerings to pagan deities, as a series of pre-Christian idols have been found buried in the areas that surround the pillar; according to local tradition, the pillar itself was once venerated by the pagan societies that inhabited the area, but it's difficult to determine the extent to which these claims may simply be part of the mythos that surrounds Katskhi Pillar, particularly given its mysterious reputation.

Sources & More Info:

BBC: Georgia's Daring, Death-Defying Pilgrimage

CNN: Katskhi Pillar, the Extraordinary Church where Daring Monks Climb Closer to God

Radio Free Europe: Georgian Monk Renews Tradition, Lives Atop Pillar

Architecture and Asceticism (Ch. 4): Stylitism as a Cultural Trend Between Syria and Georgia

Research Publication from the Georgian National Museum: Katskhi Pillar

Journal of Nomads: Katskhi Pillar, the Most Incredible Cliff Church in the World

Georgian Journal: Georgia's Katskhi Pillar Among World's 20 Wonderfully Serene and Secluded Places

#archaeology #history #anthropology #artifact #medieval architecture #medieval church #Stylites #asceticism #georgia #sakartvelo #katskhi pillar #religion #travel #monastery #paganism #caucasus #medieval europe #christianity #strange places

[itscodebaby]

y o u s a i d y o u ‘ d b e h e r e

#liminal #liminal reality #liminalcore #liminal photography #liminal spaces #weirdcore #oddcore #dreamcore #strangecore #strange places #photography #negative space

[unrealityliminal]

#mine #unreality #midjourney #mid journey #weirdcore #surrealcore #uncanny valley #oddly familiar #strange places #water #watercore #tunnel #hallway #corridor #the backrooms #backrooms #liminal spaces #liminal #ai generated #ai photography #ai art #sealife

[industrialstate]

north york moors 11/2022

#rural gothic #liminality #vacant #eerie #rural horror #rural decay #unsettling #back roads #vacant land #empty spaces #rural exploration #35mm film #disposable camera #visual diary #north yorkshire #north york moors #surveillance #haunted places #strange places #vacant aesthetic #trespassing #point and shoot #film is not dead #point and click #35mm color film

[pieoriginals]

Strange Places: The Mountains; The Canyon

ID in alt

#art #artists on tumblr #papercraft #abstract #abstract art #mixed media #collage #paper craft #paper crafting #papercrafting #black artist #black art #Strange places

[laurondub]

#strange places #liminal spaces #dreamcore #mypic

[dorkvania]

Portland Mausoleum

#mausoleum #strange places #angels #cremation urns #urns #stained glass #pdx #Portland

[galliaestomnis]

Burj Al Babas is a luxury residential project located in the Sarılar district of the northwestern Turkish province of Mudurnu. It was first announced in 2014, and was marketed as a "fairy tale" themed village. However, the project encountered financial difficulties and was eventually stalled, with many of the partially-constructed villas left unfinished. In recent years, Burj Al Babas has gained notoriety as an example of the excesses of the Turkish real estate market, and a symbol of the country's economic struggles.

#architecture #weirdcore #fairycore #turkey #burj al babas #disney #disney inspired #castle #fairy tale #fairy #theme park #parks #kingdom #real estate #urban architecture #urban areas #strange places

[mask131]

For those of you who can read French, here is a nice little (but old) article about the “Road of Death” of Mount Hua, in China

https://www.voyage-insolite.com/2014/04/25/incroyabe-chemin-mort-mont-hua-chine/

#strange places #china #deadly places #french stuff

[bprdeeznuts]

Sketchpage made immediately after finishing up Vol 6: Strange Places in which Hellboy drinks with skeletons and eats a haunted banana

#hellboy #hellboy fanart #hellboy comics #abe sapien #babe sapien #roger hellboy #liz sherman #strange places

[strangep1aces]

#zillow #roomcore #familiar places #dreamcore #home interiors #strange places #nostalgiacore #unreality

[itscodebaby]

d r e a m a n e w r e a l i t y

#liminal #liminal spaces #liminal reality #liminalcore #liminal photography #liminal art #dreamcore #oddcore #weirdcore #strange places #strangecore #sakura #sakura season #cherry blossoms #vaporwave #vaporwave vibes #vaporwave aesthetic

[elixlozgamer]

When you travel to school, keep in mind the few rules.

Always lock your door, and make sure your key is out. It may be basic, but you'd rather a robbery than what other horrors await in the neighborhood.

On the first road, beware of the man that walks to the woods every morning.

If you're a man, walk tougher.

If you're a woman, keep your keys in your hand.

No matter your gender, only watch him in your peripheral vision. He'll check each house for a key, too.

On the second road, don't watch the woods. Don't even make eye contact. The creatures don't like being watched. It scares them.

Don't walk in the grass, either. If a car comes, step to the curb.

If you touch the grass, it will turn as red as your blood.

As you cross the ponds, don't stop to gaze. The fog ghosts that dance will drag you beneath the surface. You can watch, but don't ever stop moving.

Beware of the car with headlights. Their goal is to make you walk on the grass. Just keep staring ahead, and step to the curb or go around. Anything is better than walking on the grass.

At the bus stop, ignore the talking boy. If you respond back, you'll never get rid of him. Keep your ear buds in.

If he taps you on the shoulder, only wave.

Eventually, the bus will arrive. Say goodmorning to the driver, otherwise the busbwill crasg. Stay away from the back. Their loudness will drive you insane. Opt for the front instead.

Ignore everybody until you get to school.

That is all.

Safe travels.

#weirdcore #dreamcore #safe travels #creepypasta #strange places #the ten minute walk to the bus stop is boring ngl #really wanna take my mind off it and go to a more scary world with unusual rules

[sirenemarie]

Spam museum 😆 do you like spam?

#spam museum #spam recipes #hormel #spam musubi #strange places #weird stuff #weird places #minnesota

[paprika-chicken-baby]

#joe momma #hellboy #hellboy comics #strange places

[erikurtz]

STRANGE PLACES' VIVID SECOND EPISODE "AN IMPROPER USE OF SHADING" WINS ROCKY MOUNTAIN EMMY AWARD FOR BEST GRAPHICS

Visual artist Arlinka Viljoen’s terrifying 3-D animation for the second episode of Arizona-produced supernatural anthology series Strange Places – the tortured teen revenge story “An Improper Use of Shading” – won a Rocky Mountain Emmy Award for Best Graphics at the r... http://snobbyrobot.com/2022/10/19/strange-places-vivid-second-episode-an-improper-use-of-shading-wins-rocky-mountain-emmy-award-for-best-graphics/

#3-D Visual Effects #An Improper Use Of Shading #Andy Rodriguez McCradic #animation #Anthology Series #Arlinka Viljoen #awards #Best Graphics #emmys #graphic design #Nakai Neiffer #Nakos Neiffer #Rocky Mountain Emmys #Sophie Schneider #STRANGE PLACES #Supernatural #Suspense #Visual Design #web series