Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: celtic

After the Romans left, the north became a patchwork of warring Celtic tribes. In the 7th century, the region was invaded by the Angles, a Germanic tribe that moved westwards from Northumbria. From around 870, the area was colonised by Vikings from Dublin and the Hebrides and Danes from Yorkshire. Two Viking Age cross shafts and four hogbacks and a small cross found immediately west of St Andrew's Church, known as ‘Giant's Grave’ and ‘Giant's Thumb’ (c. 920), have long given rise to speculation. They appear to be an Anglo-Norwegian fusion of Christian, Celtic and Norse motifs. The grave was opened in the 17th century and revealed human remains, including very long leg bones and a sword. The grave could be the burial place of Owain ap Dyfnwal, King of Cumbria 920-937, but this is just one of several legends and speculations. One of the four sculpted hogbacks. These are stone carved Anglo-Scandinavian style sculptures from 10th- to 12th-century northern England and south-west Scotland. Hogbacks fell out of fashion by the beginning of the 11th century. Their function is generally accepted as grave markers.

After the Romans left, the north became a patchwork of warring Celtic tribes. In the 7th century, the region was invaded by the Angles, a Germanic tribe that moved westwards from Northumbria. From around 870, the area was colonised by Vikings from Dublin and the Hebrides and Danes from Yorkshire. Two Viking Age cross shafts and four hogbacks and a small cross found immediately west of St Andrew's Church, known as ‘Giant's Grave’ and ‘Giant's Thumb’ (c. 920), have long given rise to speculation. They appear to be an Anglo-Norwegian fusion of Christian, Celtic and Norse motifs. The grave was opened in the 17th century and revealed human remains, including very long leg bones and a sword. The grave could be the burial place of Owain ap Dyfnwal, King of Cumbria 920-937, but this is just one of several legends and speculations.

After the Romans left, the north became a patchwork of warring Celtic tribes. In the 7th century, the region was invaded by the Angles, a Germanic tribe that moved westwards from Northumbria. From around 870, the area was colonised by Vikings from Dublin and the Hebrides and Danes from Yorkshire. Two Viking Age cross shafts and four hogbacks and a small cross found immediately west of St Andrew's Church, known as ‘Giant's Grave’ and ‘Giant's Thumb’ (c. 920), have long given rise to speculation. They appear to be an Anglo-Norwegian fusion of Christian, Celtic and Norse motifs. The grave was opened in the 17th century and revealed human remains, including very long leg bones and a sword. The grave could be the burial place of Owain ap Dyfnwal, King of Cumbria 920-937, but this is just one of several legends and speculations.

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.

Erected within the 12th century the parish church Saint-Martin got severely damaged and partly destroyed during many feuds and wars fought in the Saintonge. The church got fortified, repaired and rebuilt, so it is no wonder, that by now this is a mixture between "saintongeais" Romanesque style and late Gothic style. The whole apse (not visible from this pov) is Gothic - and somehow out of proportion. In the 1970s a small crypt was discovered, cut into the stone below the choir. Some see this "cave" as a celtic "panic room", later used as an ossuary - and forgotten. It was difficult to squeeze myself into the crypt. When the stairs were cut into the rock, mankind must have been small and slender.

"Notre-Dame d'Orcival" is a masterpiece of romanesque architecture in the Auvergne. Towering above the small village of Orcival (pop. 250) it was built within the second half of the 12th century on a steep slope. There are no proof records about the construction, as the archives were looted, but lots of legends are still around. The Virgin herself should have been here, drinking water from a certain spring. It was not the first church built on that place, that may even have been a special/holy place already during celtic times. The church was part of a small priory, belonging to La Chaise-Dieu and being a church of pilgrimage since the very beginning. Damaged (like Mozac) by the earthquakes (1478), it was reconstructed. During the Revolution the complete wooden furniture was burnt. The statue of the "Virgin in Majesty", created around 1170 and since then the center of The statue of the "Virgin in Majesty", created around 1170 and since then the center of the pilgrimage, was sealed inside a wall - and survived. The vast majority of the 231 capitals in and outside "Notre-Dame d'Orcival" depicts "corinthian" foliage. They are probably inspired by the ruins of a roman temple on the Puy de Dôme and the baths at Mont-Dore which were still standing at the time. I could not find any capital being thematically connected with the bible, like that one in Royat. Here is a mermaid holding her braids, accompanied by a bird (eagle?).