Medieval butchers

Richardis, wife of Charles III (aka "Charles the Fat") and so "Holy Roman Empress", founded the abbey in Andlau ca 880. Later she lived here (as the abbess). She was known for her piety and so she was canonised, when Pope Leo IX paid a visit to the abbey in 1049. Another frame of the frieze in Andlau. A story about domestication! A wild boar - and it´s domesticated cousin. A hunter (to the right) points out to a wild boar to his dog. I think, that the animal outside the frame is a boar, as they were hunted with spears. And it connects to the rest of the story.. There are two butchers. The person in the middle hold up his axe, to kill the (domesticated) pig. He will hit the pig´s head with the edgeless side of the axe - and then cut it´s throat. This method is still in use today. Somewhere. His collegue standing to the left is already waiting - and sharpening his long knife meanwhile. As soon, as the pig is dead, they will start to prepare the "black pudding", known in France as "boudin noir" , in Germany as "Blutwurst".

Wilfred the Hairy (aka Guifré el Pilós), whom we just "met" as the founder of the nearby monastery in Sant Joan de les Abadesses, where his daughter Emma of Barcelona was the first abbess, founded the Monastery of Santa Maria in Ripoll in 879. Here his son Radulf de Barcelona was abbot. This was not only Wilfred´s family business, he was very successful in the political power game of that time. The first church was consecrated in 888, but as the monastery grew it was "reconsecrated" in 935, 977, and 1032. When Oliba de Besalú, as well a descendent of Wilfred, was abbot here (1008 - 1046), this was a cultural center. More than 250 books were on the shelves of the monastery´s library. The decline started within the 15th century. In 1428 it was severely damaged by an earthquake, the restoration was done in Gothic style. The church got ruined during the first Carlist War, the library burnt down, and the last monks had left. In 1847 part of the cloister and soon after, the abbot´s palace got demolished. The Bishop of Vic organized the rebuilding so that the church got consecrated again in 1893. The church of today is vastly a product of the reconstruction of the 19th century, but it may be "near" to the romanesque structure. The famous portal of the church, which of course got damaged, but survived the times is 11,60m wide and 7,25m high. It has lots of scenes, not only from the bible. I was so impressed and overwhelmed, that, when I returned to the hotel during the siesta-hours, I immediately booked a second night. I knew that this structure would grab me for many hours. I have to say a special "GRACIAS" to the helpful lady at the ticket counter. Of course, I will not upload all photos I took in Ripoll... Over the centuries, the carvings weathered - and got vandalized. The result can be seen in the more detailed shots. The frieze next to the large wooden doors depicts the "Monthly Labors". November - Butchering the pig

Trogir was founded by Greek colonists in the 3rd century BC. In Roman times this was an important harbour town. From the 9th century on Trogir was under Croatian rule and later part of the Byzantine empire. A diocese was established in the 11th century, in 1107 the Hungarian-Croatian King Coloman ("The Bookish", "Kálmán Könyves") granted the autonomy. Saracen troops conquered Trogir in 1123 and demolished most of it. From 1420 upto 1797 Trogir belonged to the Republic of Venice. For a short while it belonged to the Napoleonic kingdom of Italy, but upto 1918 Trogir was part of the Habsburg Empire. Trogir is more than 2000 years old. It grew under the influence of the ancient Greeks, the Romans, and the Venetians... Trogir's medieval core, surrounded by walls, comprises (about 10) churches, houses and palaces from the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods. Since 1997 the centre of Trogir is a "UNESCO World Heritage Site". The Cathedral of St. Lawrence was erected from 1213 on the foundations of cathedral destroyed by the Saracens in 1123. Most of the work was done in the 13th century. This cathedral is world wide known for Master Radovan´s portal. The portal was carved by the local architect and sculptor Master Radovan (and his workshop). It was completed and signed by Radovan in 1240. Here are the two sides of the portal. The door posts are decorated with reliefs and two carved columns with scenes of hunting and beasts. The interior door posts are decorated with the allegories of months. On the left side are December, January and February, on the right are April and March. Her are "Labours of the Months". The bearded butcher is just about to kill the pig with an axe, but the goats tries to push him in the back - and so to save the pig´s life.

Trogir was founded by Greek colonists in the 3rd century BC. In Roman times this was an important harbour town. From the 9th century on Trogir was under Croatian rule and later part of the Byzantine empire. A diocese was established in the 11th century, in 1107 the Hungarian-Croatian King Coloman ("The Bookish", "Kálmán Könyves") granted the autonomy. Saracen troops conquered Trogir in 1123 and demolished most of it. From 1420 upto 1797 Trogir belonged to the Republic of Venice. For a short while it belonged to the Napoleonic kingdom of Italy, but upto 1918 Trogir was part of the Habsburg Empire. Trogir is more than 2000 years old. It grew under the influence of the ancient Greeks, the Romans, and the Venetians... Trogir's medieval core, surrounded by walls, comprises (about 10) churches, houses and palaces from the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods. Since 1997 the centre of Trogir is a "UNESCO World Heritage Site". The Cathedral of St. Lawrence was erected from 1213 on the foundations of cathedral destroyed by the Saracens in 1123. Most of the work was done in the 13th century. This cathedral is world wide known for Master Radovan´s portal. The portal was carved by the local architect and sculptor Master Radovan (and his workshop). It was completed and signed by Radovan in 1240. Here are the two sides of the portal. The door posts are decorated with reliefs and two carved columns with scenes of hunting and beasts. The interior door posts are decorated with the allegories of months. On the left side are December, January and February, on the right are April and March. Her are "Labours of the Months". The pig did not survive (see previous upload), so now, sausages are produced. I´m not sure, what it poured into the butcher´s large cup. Would he drink wine or beer, while boiling the sausages - or is this the pig´s blood? Then he may just produce "black pudding".

"Santa María la Real" is one of the highlights for all people following the "Camino Aragonés" - since about 800 years. The facade is impressing it may take hours, to find out the many details. I stayed an extra day, when I had reached the town, just to see the shadows movig over the carvings. A church did exist here already in 1131 next to the bridge crossing the river Aragon. It was transferred by Alfonso I to the "Knights Hospitaller" (aka "Order of Saint John", later "Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta"). The apse is the oldest part of the structure and probably dates back to that time. The nave and the breathtaking Southern Portal of Santa María la Real were created late 12th/13th century. I have uploaded a "total overview" earlier and will now focus on some details. The archivolts around the large tympanum, depicting the "Last Judgement" are densely populated with dancers, workers, priests and mythical creatures. Here is a butcher, holding an axe and ready to slaughter the small pig down at his feet. That was my first thought. But - is that an axe used for slaughtering? Why does the piggy have a kind of hammer? Another tool is at the "butcher´s" belt. I am not sure, this may be an illustration of a story that got lost (at least for me). Maybe about a builder and his little helper.

The Catedral de Santa Maria in Tudela was erected late 12th century on the place, where the Great Mosque of Tudela (9th c.) had stood before. The cathedral is really large (65m x 52m) but unfortunately was closed, so I could not see the well known cloister. I was very impressed by the late-Romanesque "Puerta del Juicio". The slightly pointed portal, created wirthin the 13th century, has eight archivolts and 122 different icons. On the left side is an insight view into hell, but as well people at work. Here is a butcher, using a beam scale. Meat is placed on the table in front of him - and a dog is waiting for some snippets.

The Catedral de Santa Maria in Tudela was erected late 12th century on the place, where the Great Mosque of Tudela (9th c.) had stood before. The cathedral is really large (65m x 52m) but unfortunately was closed, so I could not see the well known cloister. I was very impressed by the late-Romanesque "Puerta del Juicio". The slightly pointed portal, created wirthin the 13th century, has eight archivolts and 122 different icons. On the left side is an insight view into hell. There are as well people at work. Just below the butcher and his dog (previous upload) is a cloth merchant discussing quality and price of the linen or even silk with a prospective customer. The cloth must be pretty expensive, as it is stored in a chest, that could be locked. Note the keyhole.

Santa Maria della Pieve was erected over the remains of an earlier church from the early 12th century on. It was was the stronghold of the city's struggle against its feudal bishops, who were building the nearby Cathedral and a palace, that was rather a castle just outside the city walls. It took about two centuries to complete Santa Maria della Pieve, and so there is a mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles. Most unusual is the the facade faces this small street (today "Corso Italia"), while the apse borders to the Piazza Grande. Originally the rectangular facade had no special features, but already end of the 12th century it got changed. There is a five-arch lower floor surmounted by three loggias. Here is a detail of one of the arches. This side is much better preserved than the opposite one (previous upload) The "Labours of the Months". HIC.EST.OCTOBER - HIC.EST.NOVEMBER - HIC.EST.DECEMBER HIC.EST.MARTIUS - HIC.EST.FEBRUARIUS (mirror) - HIC.EST.BIFRONS.IANUARIUS Why has the person symbolising IANUARIUS two faces (=bifrons)? These sculptures are attributed to the "School of Benedetto Antelami", a sculptor and architect (~ 1150 – 1230) best known for his works in Parma.

St Augustine is unique and is reminiscent of the wooden stave churches of Norway. The bell tower is completely separate from the rest of the church, being made entirely of wood. Originally it was just an open wooden framework to support a single bell. This structure probably dates from 1260, which is when the current church was built. The church has of course been remodelled and enlarged several times over the years. The most interesting part here is the Norman font. The lead font is one of the 30 such fonts in England. This one represents the "labours of the months" and uses signs of the zodiac to represent the 12 months. It is unclear where it originated or where it was produced. To create such a vessel, the lead plates were cast, bent round while still warm and then soldered. Medieval high tech, A lead font similar to this was found in the Normandy