#36: Monk Diet Culture

Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins. A monastery in Portugal took that to heart by installing a shame-inducing door for the monks. The Alcobaça Monastery installed this incredibly slender door in the dining area so that monks could monitor their figures. If a monk was unable to walk through the door comfortably, it was a sign that they needed to fast more. 

The original construction of Alcobaça dates back to the 12th century, but this door and the dining room are most likely from the 18th century. The Alcobaça monks became notorious for their rich pantries and opulent access to food. It wasn’t a good look for the monastery, which was supposed to be an example of piety. The solution was this fat-shaming door, which is only 12.5 inches wide.