Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: usury

When the first barbarian people, the Alemanni invaded northern Italy, "Piacentia" was one of the first major Roman cities to be besieged. The Battle of Piacentia then broke out in front of the city walls in 271, during which the Alemanni inflicted a bitter defeat on the Romans. The fall of the city triggered panic in the capital. In 546, Totila subjugated Piacenza. After its conquest by the Franks in the ninth century, the city began to recover, aided by its location along the Via Francigena. Between 997 and 1035 the city was ruled by its bishops, installed by Otto III. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Piacenza was an important member of the Lombard League. As a rule, the city remained Guelph, but at times it called upon powerful Ghibellines to aid them against their native tyrants. In 1447 Piacenza was conquered and plundered by Francesco I Sforza. After being occupied by papal troops in 1512, it was united with Parma in 1545 to form a hereditary duchy under Pier Luigi II Farnese, a son of Pope Paul III. After the preceding "Domus Justinae" in Piacenza had collapsed in 1117 after an earthquake, the "Duomo di Piacenza" (aka "Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta e Santa Giustina") was erected between 1122 and 1233. The cathedral has a total length of 85 m. making it the largest Romanesque church in Emilia-Romagna. Details of the facade. Wiligelmo da Modena s said to have contributed to the bas-reliefs. The lintel is supported by two figures that are labeled. Left "usura" (usury), right "avarice".

Around 1060 a small monastery was founded here, funded by William IV, Duke of Aquitaine (aka Fièrebrace - The Iron Arm). The building of the romanesque church started immediately and probably only took less than 10 years. This church is counted rightly to the crown jewels of the romanesque architecture in the Auvergne by Bernard Craplet ("Auverne romane"). What makes it so interesting is, that this is the oldest of the crown jewels, as this structure is about 50 years older than Notre-Dame-du-Port, Orcival and Issoire. But it nevertheless shows already all the specific touch, the romanesque style ahs in the Auvergne. Actually Bernard Craplet places this small church like a stepping stone between the (lost) romanesque cathedral of Étienne II/Pope Stephen II in Clermont and Notre-Dame-du-Port. Though the romanesque church is really small and not complete, this is one of the most important structures in the Auvergne. The Collégiale Saint-Victor et Sainte-Couronne (now parish church) consists out of three architectural parts. The romanesque church with a nave, two aisles and a transept, a later added narthex and a large gothic part. The building of the gothic church from around 1280 on, took about 200 years. There are many carved capitals in the romanesque nave. This the best known - in literature. The "Rich Man" (or even "Avarice") showcased by two large, winged devils, holding him by his hands and his feet. He is on his way to hell. The money bag is still around the neck and down below between his knees stands a vessel. Probably an early saving box. "MUNERA DIVE" is written on the vessel. While the sinner faces the audience directly, the two devils obviously pan a wider space. The speech scroll is holded on the left by a small devil on the side (only the facial profil and a hand can be seen here) and written by another one on the right (not to be seen here)(Sorry!) - reads "CANDO USURAM ACCEPISTSI OPERA MEA FECISTI" - well, a rough translation is "(When you) accepted usury, you worked for me". This describes clearly - Mark 10:25 / Matthew 19:24 "..it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”