Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: pigeon

The church "St. Martin und Maria", now used as the parish church of Sponheim, was part of an abbey, founded by Meginhard of Sponheim and his father. The abbey got consecrated in 1123, the first monks came from Mainz. After the Reformation the monks left the abbey. A try to reestablish monastic life here with the support of the Bursfelde Congregation ended unsuccessful. Another try ended in 1794, when the last monks fled the monastery from the approaching French troops. The first buildings of the monastary burnt down in 1156. The rebuilding process started soon after. The layout of the church is a Greek cross, what was never planned, but the nave never got completed. Johannes Trithemius was abbot here between 1483 and 1505. He was not liked by the monks, as he was preferred a very harsh monastic life. Johannes was very popular among the intellectual community in Germany as an lexicographer and historian. As an early cryptographer, he was one of the greatgrandfathers of Alan Turing. In 1516, he published the "Polygraphiae", containing a "tabula recta", a cornerstone of modern cryptography. Johannes Trithemius is still known for his (very) imaginative "story-telling". So he knew for sure the meaning of an eagle talking to a pigeon on it´s back..

The Fontana Maggiore is located on the "Piazza IV Novembre" (ex "Piazza Grande") between the cathedral (background) and the Palazzo dei Priori (my POV). It was created between 1277 and 1278 by the famous sculptors Nicola Pisano and his son Giovanni Pisano, known for their works in Pisa and Siena. Once the place was occupied by the bishop´s citadel. After the demolition of the citadel, the fountain got erected here as a symbol of the free city. The Fontana Maggiore is considered one of the finest still existing medieval fountains. The fountain was the end of an aqueduct engineered by Benedictine monk Fra Bevignate. The water - since centuries - serves the thirsty pigeons, but the birds have to be skilful.

After a cold night..

Not much is known about the history of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption, an outstanding example of the specific "style saintongeais". As the structure is so masterly built and has such sophisticated carvings, it is believed, that this was a priory church, when it was built mid of the 12th century. One of the capitals in the crossing of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption depicts four pigeons attacking two lions.