Marmoutier - The Abbey

Marmoutier, founded in the late 6th or 7th century by Saint Leobard was a community of Irish monks under the Rule of St. Columbanus. It was important Merovingian abbey in Alsace, that introduced the Regula Benedicti in 728. Monastic reformer Benedict of Aniane was abbot here, when (his friend) Louis the Pious (son of Charlemagne) was in power.

The westwork-facade seen here was built around 1140/50), it has a lot of carvings, of which some seem to be older.

Like thisone: A three-headed person presenting - three heads. The look of all six faces seems to be depressed. Maybe six very gifted acrobats, doing a phantastic stunt, but having forgotten, how to get out of the result again.


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Just found out, that Hans Haug and Robert Will in "Alsace romane" ( Éditions Zodiaque) see this as a three-headed devil. If they are right, that may be connected to the heathenly (slawic) god Triglav, who had three faces.