0 favorites     0 comments    247 visits

Location

Lat, Lng:  
You can copy the above to your favourite mapping app.
Address:  unknown

 View on map

See also...


Keywords

celtic
Edward the Confessor
Abbey Sainte-Trinité
Mathilde de Flandre
William I of England
William the Bastard
Anglo Saxon
Reine Mathilde
Abbaye aux Dames
William the Conqueror
Toutatis
Caen
Calvados
Basse-Normandie
France
14
ram
Teutates


Authorizations, license

Visible by: Everyone
All rights reserved

247 visits


Caen - Abbaye aux Dames

Caen - Abbaye aux Dames
Caen was a settlement already in Roman times, but prospered, when William the Conqueror (aka "William the Bastard") built a castle here.

When William married Matilda of Flanders (~ 1051) a papal ban was issued at the Council of Reims on the grounds of consanguinity. In 1059 Pope Nicholas awarded dispensation, after William and Matilda agreed to found two monasteries as penance.

William founded the Abbey of Saint-Etienne (aka "Abbaye aux Hommes"), Matilda founded with here husband´s support the Abbey Sainte-Trinité (aka "Abbaye aux Dames"). The erection of both abbeys started in Caen around 1060.

The community of nuns was suppressed by the French Revolution. In 1823 the local authorities transferred the ancient Hôtel-Dieu to the former cloister for use as a hospital, and the canonesses regular established themselves there. The canonesses continued to operate until 1908 when the facility was transferred into a nursing home.

The former abbey church Sainte-Trinité now serves the parish.

Here are three capitals from the nave of Sainte-Trinité.

Of course, there are not only beards and mustaches (see previous upload) on the nave´s capitals. There are many rams too. If the bearded faces can be interpreted as "trophies" (after the Battle of Hastings), the rams may be connected to the pagan celtic mythology, standing for the God Toutatis/Teutates.

Comments

Sign-in to write a comment.