Artaiz - San Martin

This church, dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, was a real surprise to me. The single nave structure was probably erected within the 12th century. It was built in a "walking distance" off the pilgrim routes (like "San Pedro de Echano"), as the hamlet Artaiz is just about 10kms north of the "Camino Aragonés". San Martin will have been for sure a stopover for pilgrims, who had visited the tomb of Saint Martin of Tours, following the "Via Turonensis".

The masterly composed and carved portal of Saint Martin is extraordinary in the specific iconography, that in parts may reflect the relations to the Islamic neighbours (Reconquista). Here is a script by German arthistorian Hedda Finke about this subject.

art.unt.edu/medieval-symposium/presenter.php?year=2009&am...

Between the seven corbels under the portal´s roof are six reliefs.

This one is the only without a bible-theme. It depicts a fight between to knights, that may be the martial game of jousting, that was popular especially in England and Germany with the nobility upto the 16th century. The two knights are obviously quite experienced, as the won their spurs already.

On the exhibitionist (?) seen before, on the right a christian warrior, armed with shield and lance.