Lautenbach - Collégiale Saint Gangolph

Manegold of Lautenbach, a celebrity of his time, lived here in the 11th. century. During the Investiture Controversy, Manegold sided strongly with Pope Gregory VII. Emperor Henry IV was so annoyed about this, that he sent an army to destroy the monastery and churches. That ended the monastery 1084. About 50 years later Augustinian Canons settled here - and rebuilt the church, reusing a lot of old material. Many changes took place in and around the building (now the parish church) over the time, but the ground floor of the westwork seen here, seems still unchanged.


Having seen the delicate structure of the narthex with slim pillars -and fine capitals, the friezes (left and right of the entrance) are kind of shocking. The naiv style of these carvings differs totally from the others. These carvings may have been part of the church destroyed 1086 - and be reused here.
I am not really sure about the theme, I will follow Robert Will´s interpretation (from "Alsace romane", Éditions Zodiaque), though in some details I doubt that. He sees the whole frieze under the theme of adultery.

This is the third "frame" of the left frieze.

The husband (dressed) has found out about the (hugging and kissing of) the second "frame". The husband has obviously knocked her over, so she fell to the ground, holding up the baby. He is beating her up, or - worse - he has a stone in his hand. A snake (only the head is visible here) has bitten into his clothing. The (evil) snake may stand for - and fuel - the furious rage of the man. An emotional status which is connected to devils and hell.