Can you crack the mystery? Why do some medieval churches in Europe have ostrich eggs suspended from the ceiling?

For starters, it’s natural the not-so-ordinary orbs got attention because of their massive size and distinctive appearance. But their appeal was also rooted in their rarity.

Ostriches were not native to Europe, so eggs were imported from the Middle East and North Africa where they were long associated with life, prosperity, truth, and rebirth.

Another part of their popularity was their exotic source. With a height of almost three metres or nine feet, the ostrich was the biggest bird species on the planet, with legs so powerful they could kill a lion with one kick.

But the eggs had a special appeal. In ancient Egypt and the Mediterranean world, they were engraved, painted, and embellished with gold, silver, ivory, and intricate glazes. At first, they were tomb decorations for the wealthy but later became status symbols for the rich and powerful.

Ostrich eggs are even mentioned in the Bible, but their source is not seen in a flattering light.

“The ostrich flaps her wings grandly, but they’re no match for the feathers of the stork,” says Job 39. ”She lays her eggs on top of the earth, letting them be warmed in the dust. But she doesn’t realize that a foot might crush them or a wild animal might destroy them…

” For God has deprived her of........

© Sarnia Observer