Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: evil

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 Lautenbach, to destroy the monastery and churches. 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, both friezes are kind of shocking. The naiv style of these carvings differs totally from the others. These friezes may have been part of the church destroyed 1086 - and be reused here. Here is the right side of the "smiling-devil-frame", seen before. A pig is feeding here on that babylike body, symbolising the soul, that the devil is holding by the leg. On the left side a body (head upward) is given to a snake, on the right side a body (head downward) is given to a pig. Why did the carver choose a snake and a pig? Accidently? Just two snakes would have created a very nice, even symmetrical icon. The snake and the pig must have different "symbolic values" - in the evil system of hell. There must be sins, punished by being fed to snakes, and other sins, punished by being fed to pigs.

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 Lautenbach, to destroy the monastery and churches. 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, both friezes are kind of shocking. The naiv style of these carvings differs totally from the others. These friezes may have been part of the church destroyed 1086 - and be reused here. Here is the left side of the "smiling-devil-frame", seen before. A giant snake feeds on that babylike body, symbolising the soul, that the devil is holding by the right arm. The snake has a very strange head and snout, like biblical snakes often have. The carver tried to give the giant moving snake a three-dimensionality, but it does not really work. So - for a certain kind of sin - the souls are eaten up by a giant snake. This sin should depicted be on one of the two friezes.

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 Lautenbach, to destroy the monastery and churches. 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, both friezes are kind of shocking. The naiv style of these carvings differs totally from the others. These friezes may have been part of the church destroyed 1086 - and be reused here. The third "frame" of the right frieze is larger than the other two (nearly) identical ones. Here Robert Will does mention this carving in "Alsace romane", Éditions Zodiaque. There is a smiling (well combed) devil in the middle, a kind of "jack in the box", holding two (babylike) bodies (souls) and feeding them to two creatures of the underground (hell). I agree with Robert Will in this interpretation. So far, the interpretation is clear and easy. But is there a connection between the four wrestlers - and this smirking devil? Is there eventually even a connection between the devil and the frieze on the other side, where the contemplator was introduced into adultery? In case, the naked men do not wrestle, but kiss and hug, they are behaving like (heterosexual) couple on the left side. If there is a time bar in the friezes, then the smiling devil, marks the end of the kissing and hugging of both friezes. We will have a closer look on the sides of the devil.

"Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul" is not mentioned in any written document before the 13th century. Most historians agree, that the church was built not earlier than in the first half of the 12th century. About a century later, the Romanesque transept and choir got demolished - and replaced by the large Gothic structure, seen here. The tower was erected within the 13th century. The church was added to the list of "monuments historique" already in 1862, but the restoration process started end of the 19th century. The church was added to the list of "monuments historique" already in 1862, but the restoration process started end of the 19th century. Of course a church like this needs perpetual care. The walls of the nave are well conserved. They are decorated between the corbels with very unusual reliefs. These carvings were well protected under the roof and are not weathered. Some of them are fantastic and very mysterious. Here is one. A nude woman pulling a child (?) out of a greedy, evil mouth. Maybe.. The artistic styles of the black relief and the two corbels differ clearly.

The capitals in the Basilica Notre-Dame-Du-Port are very elaborate. On some of them even a signature (ROTBERTUS) could be found. This capital, perfectly carved, differs thematically. It depicts an ape - on a rope, led a man. I have seen a couple of carved monkeys and apes before, but never such a giant creature with such a threatening facial expression. This ape is at least as tall as the man on the side, probably taller, as the ape is bending his knees The ape seen here is probably a symbol for the evil, a creature from hell, - but the evil here is under control of the man.