The "Catacomb Saints" elaborately decorated skeletons of early Christians exhumed from the Roman catacombs in the 16th-18th centuries. The skeletons were taken from tombs during this time and covered with gold leaf, pearls, gemstones, crowns, armour and embroidered vestments as tangible proof of the church's ancient roots and sanctity. Although many were not officially canonized saints, they were mistakenly or symbolically treated as martyrs and were sent across Catholic Europe-especially Germany, Austria, and Switzerland-to replace relics lost during the Protestant Reformation. These skeletons, presented as ancient Christian martyrs, were meant to reassert Catholic tradition and sacred power in the 1500's-1700's. Their glittering appearances represented the heavenly glory awaiting the faithful. By the 19th century, skepticism about their authenticity grew. Many were quietly removed or stored away. Today, some remain in churches, while others are displayed as cultural artifacts or reminders of baroque religiosity.

Astronomical clock, Prague