On May 29, the head of St. Vitalis of Assisi will be sold at auction in Duleek, Ireland. The artifact has a pre-auction value between $1,100 and $1,700. The folks selling the skull are an Anglo-Irish family based in County Louth, the Belfast Telegraph reported.
According to the Telegraph, Vitalis of Assisi, led an early life filled with licentiousness, which is lacking moral discipline or ignoring legal restraint, especially in sexual conduct, and immorality.
He attempted to atone for his sins after going on pilgrimages around Italy and Europe. Later in life, he became a Benedictine monk, and lived as a hermit.
After his death in 1370, Vitalis got a reputation as a patron against sicknesses and diseases affecting the genitals.
It is unclear how the saint’s head originally arrived in Ireland.
According to the Irish Central, his head would have to be removed from display at the Meath house when children would visit.
As for the auction, the number of skull collectors is rather small compared to other strange collectors. That might explain why St. Vitalis’ head has a pre-sale value one tenth of another auction item—A 970 TVR6 sports car, which could sell for as much as much as $25,000 U.S.
