5 Secret and Very Funny Messages from Gothic Cathedrals (6 photos)
The term "Easter egg," meaning a joke or surprise hidden within a media product, came into common usage in 1979. 
But long before the digital age, masters were already hiding mysterious and amusing details in monumental architecture. These architectural Easter eggs, whether an ironic hint, an act of revenge, or simply a funny joke, have survived the centuries, becoming a whimsical part of history. Here are five hidden sculptures that reveal human nature in the stone of majestic temples.
1. The Indecent Little Man on the Church of St. James 
On the south window of the Church of St. James in Brno, Czech Republic, a strange figure is lost among the Gothic decoration: a two-faced figure, brazenly displaying his naked buttocks to the world. Legends link it to a church rivalry: the spire of St. James was ten meters taller than the neighboring cathedral, and this sculpture became the winner's last word. However, historians believe it is simply a bizarre decorative element, not unique to the Gothic style.
2. The Crushed Man in the Church of the Jacobins 
The Church of the Jacobins in Toulouse is famous for the relics of Thomas Aquinas. Much less well known is the strange carving at the base of the column, behind the gilded reliquary: bony hands and plump, crossed feet protruding from the stone, as if someone had been crushed by the pillar. The origin and meaning of this detail are lost to time. It's easy to miss, and even some tour guides don't know about it.
3. Darth Vader Grotesque at the Washington National Cathedral 
The Washington National Cathedral, the sixth largest in the world, attracts half a million visitors annually. For the most observant, hidden among the spires of the northwest tower is an officially approved grotesque with the recognizable profile of Darth Vader, the villain from Star Wars. It is an ironic gift from modern pop culture to this neo-Gothic giant.
4. The Bull of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore 
On the left façade of the majestic Florentine cathedral, you can see a stone bull's head. According to urban legend, it was placed there by a stonemason who was having an affair with the wife of a wealthy shopkeeper. When the deception was discovered, the craftsman sculpted the head so that the bull's horns pointed directly at the horned husband's shop, as a silent reproach and reminder of his wife's true love.
5. The Astronaut of the Salamanca Cathedral 
The medieval cathedral of Salamanca, Spain, contains a most unexpected detail: a figurine of an astronaut in a spacesuit. This is not a hint of ancient aliens, but a thoroughly modern addition. During the 1992 restoration, the artisans were allowed to add new elements, including a dragon with ice cream, a lynx, and a crayfish. Despite documented proof of its novelty, the astronaut has already sparked numerous pseudo-historical theories.
