Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: fable

The first church probably existed here, on the siland of Murona, already in the 7th century. A large church, named "Santa Mariae plebis Murianensis" was erected within the 10th century. Legends connect the building to Otto I, and it is proven that it was completed in 999. This church got rebuild around 1040. In 1125, the relics of St. Donatus, that had been attained by the Venitian forces, led by Doge Domenico Michele, were translated to this church. The church and the campanile are built with red bricks. Santa Maria e San Donato, once the cathedral of the Bishops of Murano and Torcellino, is known for the fantastic floor mosaics and cosmatesque decorations, that, following the inscription, seen here, was completed 1140. The mosaics cover the complete floor of the church. The "Funeral of Fox", going back to one of Aesop´s fabels. The story (the fox only only pretends to be dead - and in the end..) was as well told in the very popular "Le Roman de Renart" written down around 1170 in Northern France. Similar mosaics are in Venice (San Marco) and Ravenna (San Giovanni Evangelista).

Augustodunum (today Autun) was founded during the reign of Augustus, after whom it was named. It was an important settlement, the Roman theather, partly unearthed, could seat about 15.000 people, there is a Roman temple, walls... But it is the Cathédrale Saint-Lazare and the wonderful carvings, that made me return again and again. There had been a church here earlier, that was just too small, when Autun became a center of pilgrimage, after relics of St. Lazarus were kept here since about 970. Just like Vezelay, 90kms north, where the relics of St. Lazarus´ sister St. Maria Magdalena were kept at that time. In 1120 it was decided to construct this larger and more suitable cathedral. At that time this construction was influenced by Cluny III, that was a little older. After severe damage during the Hundred Years' War, rebuilding and remodeling the romanesque structure started. The tympanum, a masterpiece, signed by Gislebertus, survived accidently pretty undamaged, as it was hidden under thick plaster for many decades. Many other carvings, carved by Gislebertus (or his workshop) are in and outside the cathedral. Aesop´s fable "The Wolf and the Crane" A wolf, having a bone stuck in his throat, hired a crane to put her head into his throat and draw out the bone. When the crane had extracted the bone, and demanded the promised payment, the wolf exclaimed: "Why, you have surely already a sufficient recompense, in having been permitted to draw out your head in safety from the mouth and jaws of a wolf." This capital is on the very right side of the portal. It corresponds to the very left one. See PiP (right corner).

The collegiate church, dedicated to Saint Ursus of Aosta, existed here already in Carolingian times. Ursus, who may have been Irish, was a missionary, who supported the Bishop of Aosta. When an Arian became bishop of Aosta, Ursus and other canons left the cathedral and settled outside the walls of Aosta at the present site of the collegiate church of Saint Ursus. A Romanesque church was built around 1000, but this church got rebuilt, altered and enlarged many times over the centuries. The beautiful cloister, next to the basilica, was erected mid 12th century. It got restored end of teh 15th century, but 37 of the 42 original capitals are still "in situ". The now darkgrey capitals were white, when they were carved. Here is an illustration of one of the best known of Aesop's fables. The Fox and the Stork. The fox invites the stork to eat with him and provides soup in a shallow bowl, which the fox can lap up easily; however, the stork cannot drink it with its beak. The stork then invites the fox to a meal, which is served in a narrow-necked vessel. It is easy for the stork to access but impossible for the fox.

A large Romanesque church, belonging to the Augustinian Abbey of Saint-Étienne de Mortagne (15kms south), got erected in Coze within the 12t/13th century. The abbey went under, the church got altered and finally in disrepair. In 1756 the vaults of the nave collapsed and it took great efforts to rebuilt the church within the 19th century. Some parts of the nave are dating back to the Romanesque structure. On the outside are two extraordenary capitals, illustrating "The Fox and the Stork", one of Aesop´s Fables, that were very popular in medieval times. Here is part 2 The stork then invites the fox to have a meal. This is served in a narrow-necked vessel. It is easy for the stork to access the food but impossible for the fox. Unfortunetaly the stork lost its beak.

A large Romanesque church, belonging to the Augustinian Abbey of Saint-Étienne de Mortagne (15kms south), got erected in Coze within the 12t/13th century. The abbey went under, the church got altered and finally in disrepair. In 1756 the vaults of the nave collapsed and it took great efforts to rebuilt the church within the 19th century. Some parts of the nave are dating back to the Romanesque structure. On the outside are two extraordenary capitals, illustrating "The Fox and the Stork", one of Aesop´s Fables, that were very popular in medieval times. Here is part 1: A fox invites a stork to have dinner with him and provides soup in a shallow bowl. The fox can lap up the soup easily, while the stork cannot drink it with its beak.